Newcastle United Women 3 Bristol City Women 2 | OneFootball

A first-half brace from Beth Lumsden saw United go into the break ahead, despite Malaika Meena pulling one back, and the Magpies largely controlled the second period.

The Robins looked to have salvaged a point with less than ten minutes to play thanks to an Amy Rodgers header, but centre-back Deanna Cooper popped up just 60 seconds later to put United back in front.

Cooper ghosted in at the back post and got ahead of her marker to bundle home Freya Gregory's cross for her third goal of the season.

After a long five weeks away from Kingston Park, the game took no time to spring into life with Lumsden opening the scoring after seven minutes before Malaika Meena levelled things up 63 seconds later.

Lumsden's opening goal was a smart bit of play that saw Emily Murphy and Lois Joel work the ball into the box before United's number 26 curled one into the far corner.

However, immediately after kick-off, the Robins equalised. A long ball down the right was eventually cut back to Meena, who rifled her effort into the top corner from 12 yards out.

Newcastle, roared on by a loud Kingston Park crowd, stormed back into the lead after 15 minutes, and there was a sense of déjà vu.

Joel won the ball in Bristol's final third before laying it off to Murphy, who faked to shoot before setting up Lumsden to cut inside and smash home into the roof of the net from an identical area to eight minutes earlier.

Despite a whirlwind opening 20 minutes, chances were at a premium for the remainder of the half as both sides looked to cancel each other out, and neither goalkeeper was troubled.

The second half appeared to be following the same pattern until just after the hour mark. Freya Gregory won the ball inside Bristol City's box before fizzing it across to substitute Jasmine McQuade, but her first-time effort curled wide of the near post.

Following a period of both sides pushing forward but failing to carve out golden opportunities, Bristol City pulled themselves back level when Rogers sent a looping header back where it came from and into the far corner.

Despite being pegged back, United refused to lie down. Just one minute after Rodgers' equaliser, Cooper bundled home a Gregory free kick at the back post despite being closely marked.

Into the fifth minute of six added on in the second half, Murphy burst through one-on-one with a Bristol City defender and drove past her, eyes fixed on her first goal for the club, but her effort whistled over the bar from an acute angle.

Newcastle United Women: Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo, Deanna Cooper (Amber-Keegan Stobbs 89), Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes (c), Hannah Greenwood, Rachel Furness (Jasmine McQuade 59), Lois Joel, Beth Lumsden, Emily Murphy, Freya Gregory (Katie Barker 90+4)

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly, Shania Hayles, Ella Baker, Amy Andrews, Isabella Sibley, Ava Chapman