Paige Bailey-Gayle, a January arrival from Crystal Palace, netted twice on a gusty afternoon at Kingston Park before substitute Jasmine McQuade's stunning late strike sealed the points for Becky Langley's side.

The Magpies remain four points clear at the top of the table, despite second-placed Nottingham Forest Women's win at AFC Fylde Women, after this deserved success against last season's runners-up - a result achieved with a tenth league clean sheet of the campaign in front of more than 2,600 supporters.

Wolves started the stronger of the two sides, and Amber Hughes hit the bar early on from an overhead kick following Anna Morphet's corner before Newcastle scrambled clear.

But United responded quickly, with Amber-Keegan Stobbs crossing from the left for Beth Lumsden - another recent signing who was making her first start in black and white - to send a diving header narrowly wide at the far post. 

Then in the 19th minute, Stobbs was involved again as she brilliantly played in Bailey-Gayle but, under pressure from two defenders, the Jamaica international shot over.

Fan favourite Katie Barker had a shot comfortably saved by Bec Thomas in the 38th minute, but Newcastle took the lead two minutes later. 

Charlotte Potts played a raking pass from defence and former Portsmouth Women forward Lumsden sent over a teasing delivery from the right which Bailey-Gayle prodded home from close range.

On the stoke of half time, a cross-shot from the visitors' Destiney Toussaint hit the woodwork, but United led at the break and looked to add to that at the beginning of the second period when Lia Cataldo - another January arrival from Palace also making her bow - shot wide after Emma Kelly's deep delivery dropped for her.

Toussaint was then off target for Wolves, with the match still delicately poised, but Bailey-Gayle gave the Magpies some breathing space in the 73rd minute.

Again, Lumsden was the provider, cutting back for Bailey-Gayle to rifle left-footed past Thomas after her initial effort on the turn was blocked.

Bailey-Gayle was denied a hat-trick in the 84th minute, with Katie Johnson heading her lobbed effort off the line, but in stoppage time, substitute McQuade added a third with the goal of the day. The former Middlesbrough Women midfielder drove towards the box before unleashing a fantastic 22-yard effort into the net.

Newcastle travel to Burnley Women - one of their main rivals for the title - next weekend, but will be buoyed ahead of what could be a decisive day by their latest win and the debut displays of Bailey-Gayle and Cataldo. 

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Liv Watt, Emma Kelly, Katie Barker (Kacie Elson 85), Georgia Gibson (Jasmine McQuade 87), Hannah Greenwood, Charlotte Potts, Beth Lumsden (Tyler Dodds 80), Paige Bailey-Gayle (Anna Soulsby 90), Lia Cataldo

Sub not used: Sharna Wilkinson