United maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division with strikes from Katie Barker, Georgia Gibson, Jasmine McQuade and a second half effort from Bridget Galloway.

Stoke were left shell-shocked when United struck three times in three minutes to put the game to bed before the 20-minute mark and continued to show their quality on and off the ball.

After a very stop-start opening ten minutes it was Newcastle's number nine, Barker, who pounced at the back post to smash home into an empty net.

It came after Amber-Keegan Stobbs fired a Beth Lumsden free kick goalwards before Barker turned it home unmarked after just 11 minutes.

Moments later United doubled their lead through Gibson. Newcastle's number ten was found in space by Barker, and after taking a touch she fired into the bottom corner with composure.

It was a first-half rout as McQuade made it 3-0 two minutes later when she was played through by a defence-splitting past from Paige Bailey-Gayle. McQuade took a touch to steady herself before rifling home from just inside the box.

United were totally dominant and looked a threat every time they ventured forward, with Stoke requiring a team huddle to regroup and contain Newcastle.

Newcastle continued to control the game and looked set to add a fourth when Lumsden whipped a dangerous ball across the six-yard box with Barker inches away from tapping home, only for a Stoke defender to divert her effort onto the post.

Stoke came out flying in the second half, but it was United who registered the first chance when the ball was worked to Stobbs on the edge of the box. The skipper was slightly off balance, and saw her curling effort whistle wide of the far post.

Despite their overall dominance, Newcastle almost allowed Stoke a route back into the game but Grace Donnelly was very quick off her line to smother Roisin Kivel's effort.

Stoke looked to make it a nervous end to the match for Newcastle when Heidi Logan was found unmarked at the back post and left Donnelly with no chance, as she thundered home a close-range effort.

However, the home side's hopes were very short-lived when Charlotte Potts' through ball picked out substitute Anna Soulsby who showed composure and an unselfish nature to square the ball to Galloway and she tucked home from close range.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly, Olivia Watt (Sharna Wilkinson 45), Charlotte Potts, Lia Cataldo, Beth Lumsden (Anna Soulsby 72), Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Jasmine McQuade (Elysia Boddy 79), Georgia Gibson, Katie Barker (Nicki Gears 72), Paige Bailey-Gayle (Bridget Galloway 72)

Subs not used: None

Report by Aaron Hindhaugh