Newcastle United Women 2-0 Middlesbrough Women: Lady Magpies close gap on league leaders after Tyne-Tees derby win

The Lady Magpies were indeed frustrated for the majority of the game but two second-half strikes from Kacie Elson and Becky Ferguson sealed a vital victory at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park.

Becky Langley’s side knew a win was required in order to cut the deficit at the top, and while Elson and Ferguson found the net, they also had Beth Guy to thank for an inspired midfield performance.

The added incentive of local bragging rights clearly had Newcastle fired up as they pressed relentlessly from the start and never gave Boro a moments rest.

But it took until the 75th minute to break the deadlock but Elson’s calm finish put Newcastle ahead. The lead was then doubled just three minutes later as substitute Ferguson found the bottom corner.

While the Lady Magpies dominated the ball in the opening exchanges, it took them until the 20th minute to really test Kayley Dunn in the Boro goal via a long-distance Georgia Gibson free kick.

With less than half an hour remaining, Kingston Park was on its feet as Katie Barker pounced on a loose ball but with just Dunne to beat, she fired straight at the keeper with a lazy strike.

As time ticked on, Boro failed to deal with a lofted Charlotte Potts free-kicked and Rachel Lee watched her curling volley crash back off the post.

Langley’s team continued to pile on the pressure and it eventually paid off as Guy fizzed a ball forward to Elson on the edge of the area.

Elson took the ball fantastically on the half turn and beat two defenders before firing her effort into the top corner – causing a mass pile-on of players on the pitch as a sigh of relief was puffed out by many.

After ploughing on for most of the game, Newcastle made their dominance count with a second goal via substitute Ferguson.

It was Gibson’s ball over the top that allowed Ferguson to outmuscle the Boro defender before calmly slotting past the on-rushing Dunne.

Gibson tried to turn goalscorer with less than five minutes remaining but her effort from the edge of the area cannoned back off the bar.

While it wasn’t the best game Kingston Park had seen, Newcastle’s substitutes once again proved the difference and ensured they carried out a professional performance to really crank up the pressure on Durham.

NEWCASTLE WOMEN: Grace Donnelly, Charlotte Potts, Beth Guy, Freya Bailes, Katie Barker (Anna Soulsby, 78), Georgia Gibson, Kacie Elson (Millie Bell, 84), Lauren Robson (Becky Ferguson, 55), Keira Skelton, Daisy Burt (Charlyann Pizzarello, 65), Cara Milne-Redhead (Rachel Lee, 55).