But Langley will be disappointed that her team did not get all three, having led from the 25th minute through a brilliant Kacie Elson strike.

A late free-kick from Laura Walker brought Chorley level in the fixture, and it stayed that way until the final whistle.

Before kick-off, a minute's silence was excellently observed by players, staff and supporters in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, followed by the national anthem, God Save the King.

The Lady Magpies looked to impose themselves on the visitors early on and almost had the lead just four minutes in, but after latching onto a superb Sharna Wilkinson pass, Katie Barker fired narrowly wide.

Following Barker's early effort, Chorley came close to breaking the deadlock when Wilkinson was pick-pocketed at halfway and a speculative effort from distance almost caught Grace Donnelly out in the Newcastle goal.

Following the early flurry of chances, both sides began to cancel each other out, with clear-cut opportunities at a premium.

But the game sprung back to life with 23 minutes on the clock when Lauren Robson found Barker inside the box, but the number nine's low centre narrowly evaded the onrushing Elson before she could get the telling touch.

However Elson didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, as just two minutes later she curled a delightful effort from outside the box beyond Emma Bradley and into the back of the net.

The visitors looked to respond after falling behind but Newcastle Women's defence, backed up expertly by their captain, Donnelly, remained resolute.

On the stroke of half time, Barker sliced an effort wide from inside the box before Chorley had two chances to equalise, seeing both repelled by superb blocks from Daisy Burt, ensuring that the Lady Magpies went in at the break with a one-goal lead.

Chorley came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half, looking for a leveller, but stern work from the Newcastle defence and Donnelly preserved the Lady Magpies' lead.

Six minutes into the second period, Elson almost had a brace, but after rising high at the back post to get on the end of Barker's brilliant cross from the right, the left-winger turned her header over the bar.

The visitors continued to apply pressure as the second half went on, with Donnelly being forced into a smart save to keep out Georgia Payton's effort.

But Newcastle came closest to getting the next goal - and doubling their lead - just after the hour mark when Georgia Gibson turned on the edge of the box before striking a powerful left-footed effort towards the bottom corner, seeing it parried by Bradley.

The number ten had another opportunity to get the Lady Magpies' second on 71 minutes, but she couldn't get enough purchase on her strike to trouble Bradley after being found by Beth Guy in the box.

With 83 minutes on the clock, a long free-kick from Walker brought the visitors level, looping over Donnelly and in off the crossbar.

The Lady Magpies responded, and Bradley was forced to produce an impressive save to turn away Robson's dangerous free-kick delivery, with Gibson lurking at the back post.

Langley's side continued to press for a winner in the dying stages, but a combination of good fortune and resolute defending from Chorley meant Newcastle had to settle for a point.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly (c), Daisy Burt, Jess Spark, Freya Bailes, Keira Skelton, Beth Guy, Sharna Wilkinson (Lois Greenslade 70), Lauren Robson, Georgia Gibson, Kacie Elson, Katie Barker

Subs not used: Frankie Hackett, Emma Wallis, Libby Corney, Georgina Spraggon

Report by Joseph Nelson

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC