Newcastle United Women 3 Sunderland Women 1 | OneFootball

United took to the St. James' Park turf for the first time in a competitive fixture this season and made sure it was one for everyone to remember.

A second goal at St. James' Park for Deanna Cooper saw the Lasses take the lead minutes after an Anna Tamminen penalty save saw the crowd take their noise levels up a few notches.

A chaotic five minutes followed that goal, with Emily Murphy firing home from close range after Sunderland failed to clear an inswinging corner, before Keira Barry headed home from a few yards out to halve the deficit.

Although there will have been room for nervousness and tension to creep into Newcastle's game, Murphy made sure the three points were staying on Tyneside when her long-range effort nestled into the bottom corner.

Shooting towards the Gallowgate End in the first half, United looked the more dangerous side when Jordan Nobbs' corner was only cleared to Beth Lumsden, but her edge-of-the-area effort was hit into a sea of red and white shirts.

Newcastle continued to press for an opening goal through last season's derby day hero, Lumsden, when her low cross found Shania Hayles, but the number nine's goal-bound effort was well blocked by Hannah Greenwood.

However, coming out for the second half, the Lasses found themselves pinned in their own half with Sunderland looking to force the issue, something they did when Aoife Mannion was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

On her debut in the United goal, Tamminen was tasked with saving Eleanor Dale's spot-kick in front of the Gallowgate, and a long dive to her right saw St. James' Park erupt.

The Lasses used Tamminen's heroics to turn the tide as Nobbs' deep corner was met by Cooper, who scored last season at St. James' Park, and bundled the ball home at the back post.

And United capitalised on the noise inside St. James' Park by doubling their advantage just three minutes later when the Black Cats failed to deal with another set piece.

This time it was Lumsden with the inswinging ball in, which was a problem for Grace Moloney, and after Sunderland sliced their clearance to Murphy, she made no mistake when thumping home her first at St. James' Park.

Five minutes of madness were rounded up when Barry headed home from three yards after United failed to clear a Sunderland corner, sending nerves reverberating around the ground.

With the game finely in the balance and nerves lingering in the stands, a darting run forward from Oona Sevenius teed up goalscorer Murphy 20 yards out.

The Republic of Ireland international needed no second invitation to take one touch onto her right foot and send a zipping effort bouncing over the hand of Moloney into the far right corner.

United's number 35 made it three goals in three games, all coming off the bench, while also ensuring the club's unbeaten run in competitive fixtures at St. James' Park remained intact.

Claire Ditchburn's side managed the final few minutes with poise and composure, and ultimately looked the most likely to nab another goal, with Lumsden putting in some teasing low balls into the box, unfortunately with no takers.

Newcastle United Women: Anna Tamminen, Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes (c), Jordan Nobbs, Elysia Boddy (Emma Kelly 46, Jasmine McQuade 71), Shania Hayles, Molly Pike (Emily Murphy 58), Deanna Cooper, Oona Sevenius (Freya Gregory 88), Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden

Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Jemma Purfield, Małgorzata Grec, Jorja Fox, Lia Cataldo