Despite a bright start and Kacie Elson levelling proceedings after Beth Merrick's opener, the quality of the Wolves side shone through in the second half as the Lady Magpies were knocked out of the tournament by tier three opposition for the second year running.

United came out of the traps fast at the start of the match and almost took the lead within the first minute, when Elson played through Katie Barker, whose lob bounced inches wide of the post.

The Lady Magpies maintained the early pressure, with Georgia Gibson's low cross towards Lauren Robson causing problems for Bec Thomas in the Wolves goal.

But it was the visitors who took the lead with just nine minutes on the clock, when Merrick turned and arrowed an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty box.

Becky Langley's side responded and pushed hard for a leveller, being rewarded in 27 minutes when Gibson's cross was met by the head of Elson to equalise for the Lady Magpies.

As the first half wore on, both sides battled well, but United keeper Grace Donnelly brought down a Wolves attacker in the box to give the visitors a golden opportunity from the penalty spot. Anna Morphet stepped up and made no mistake, giving Wolves a 2-1 lead at the break.

After the restart, the visitors extended their advantage when Tammi George found the back of the net with a clinical first-time effort.

And just before the hour-mark, Merrick got her second and her side's fourth of the match, making the task all the more challenging for the Lady Magpies.

Merrick tried to grab her hat-trick just minutes after bagging her brace, but Donnelly reacted well to get down low and deny her.

The Lady Magpies searched for a way back into the match, but when Millie Bell was found by Keira Skelton, she couldn't direct her header on target. Moments later, Barker picked out Bell again, but the midfielder fired her effort over the crossbar.

As the match entered the closing stages, Newcastle again went close to a goal but superb goalkeeping from Thomas saw the Wolves stopper deny Barker twice in quick succession before thwarting Lois Greenslade too.

Just a minute later, after Newcastle were awarded a penalty for a foul on Barker, Thomas was the hero for the visitors again, saving Beth Guy's spot-kick.

As the match approached its end, Newcastle were reduced to ten players after Sharna Wilkinson was shown a red card for clashing with Merrick - and Wolves capitalised on the one-player advantage as Maz Gauntlett fired in a fifth.

Langley's side continued to try and reduced the deficit in the dying moments, but the visitors remained firm to eliminate the Lady Magpies from this year's Women's FA Cup.

Next up for Newcastle is another match at Kingston Park, but in the league. The Lady Magpies host Merseyrail Ladies in the FA Women's National League Division One North, in what is their last fixture before Christmas.

Newcastle United Women: Grace Donnelly (c), Millie Bell (Lois Greenslade 72), Emma Wallis, Charlotte Potts, Keira Skelton, Beth Guy, Sharna Wilkinson, Lauren Robson (Jane Harland 60), Georgia Gibson, Kacie Elson, Katie Barker

Subs not used: Frankie Hackett, Becky Ferguson, Georgina Spraggon, Gillian Oyos, Amy Hargrave

Report by Joseph Nelson

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC