Newcastle United Women new signing makes instant impact after signing from Crystal Palace

Paige Bailey-Gayle scored twice on her debut as Newcastle United Women opened up a four-point lead at the top of the FA Women’s National League North table with a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Lady Magpies lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest last time out so their win at Kingston Park was just what was needed. A dominant, if not flashy, display showed the desire and commitment this side has to earn back-to-back promotions.

Jamaican forward Bailey-Gayle, who signed from Championship side Crystal Palace last week, had an afternoon to remember having been a constant threat, showing her ability to come short while also boasting plastering pace in behind.

A world-class goal from substitute Jasmine McQuade sealed a valuable three points while also leaving the 2,614 fans inside Kingston Park blown away.

It was a raucous atmosphere at Kingston Park which the Lasses almost rewarded with an early goal when home debutant Beth Lumsden headed wide at the far post.

After a very stop-start first half, Newcastle finally broke the deadlock via debutant Bailey-Gayle. Newcastle’s new number 90 latched onto the end of Lumsden’s accurate cross and tapped home from close range.

Langley could only watch on as Charlotte Potts lost the ball running back to her own goal. Luckily for the Lasses, however, Destiney Toussaint failed to get her shot on target from close range.

Just as Wolves were beginning to pile on the pressure, some stunning individual play from Lumsden set up Bailey-Gayle who smashed home into the far corner at the second time of asking.

A brace on your debut is difficult to outdo, but that’s just what second-half substitute McQuade did despite being on the pitch for less than five minutes.

The Newcastle attacker picked up the ball in the final third and flicked it over a Wolves defender before volleying home from outside the area to leave her teammates and fans stunned by what they just witnessed.

That win and performance was exactly what Langley and her side needed after some rough weeks, including defeats to Manchester United and Forest, and they appear to have signed a new fan favourite in Bailey-Gayle.