In front of a crowd of more than 2,000, including Magpies' co-owner Amanda Staveley, new CEO Darren Eales and Academy Director Steve Harper, United's women surged into a 2-0 lead thanks to a Kacie Elson double before being pegged back by the travelling Tigresses through Ellie Tanser and a controversially-awarded Katie Thompson spot-kick. 

Georgia Gibson fired Newcastle ahead once more in the second half, but the visitors - relegated from the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division last term - scored twice more through Emily Smith to take the three points.

It took less than a minute for Elson to give United the lead, after Lauren Robson had picked her out inside the box, and six minutes later the livewire got her second after cutting inside and letting fly, with Abi Wallace unable to keep out her shot.

The visitors responded well, however, with Freya Bailes making a vital last-ditch challenge to thwart Smith before skipper Grace Donnelly was forced to make three important saves in quick succession.

But there was little that the Newcastle netminder could do to prevent Tanser from pulling one back in the 35th minute as the midfielder headed home from a corner, then three minutes later, the away side were awarded what looked to be a very soft penalty. Thompson made no mistake from 12 yards and the scores were level at the break.

The frenetic football from both sides continued after the restart, with Daisy Burt hitting the woodwork before Gibson restored United's lead with her third goal of the campaign in the 48th minute. 

But that advantage was short-lived, as four minutes later Smith levelled - then scored what proved to be the winner just before the hour-mark. 

Substitute Becky Ferguson struck a post and there were a handful of goalmouth scrambles as Newcastle threw everything at Hull in search of an equaliser, but when Bailes' half-volley clipped the post in stoppage time, it was apparent that it simply wasn't the Lady Magpies' afternoon. 

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly (c), Rosie Missen, Freya Bailes, Katie Barker, Georgia Gibson, Kacie Elson, Lauren Robson, Sharna Wilkinson (Becky Ferguson 69), Keira Skelton, Jess Spark, Daisy Burt

Subs not used: Ellie Brown, Libby Corney, Lois Greenslade, Amy Hargrave

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC