Sheffield United Women 1 Newcastle United Women 1 | OneFootball

After a near four-week hiatus from WSL2 football, United pushed from the first minute, registering 22 shots throughout the game, but were unable to add to Murphy's equaliser.

There was a boost for the Lasses before kick-off with Emma Kelly returning to the starting line-up for the first time since the Tyne-Wear derby win at St. James' Park.

Newcastle started the first half positively and Charlotte Wardlaw, looking to score her first goal for the club, saw the ball fall to her feet in the box following a Sian Rogers punch, but her goalbound effort was blocked into the goalkeeper's hands.

After United's bright beginning it was former Magpie, Amy Andrews, who almost put the hosts ahead when she was played through on the counter-attack with just Anna Tamminen to beat, but was thwarted by the Finnish shot-stopper's leg.

Following that chance, the game began to open up, with Kelly winning the ball high up and immediately playing through Murphy, but despite shrugging off the defender, her shot lacked power and was gathered by Rogers.

Oxtoby's side thought they'd taken the lead five minutes before the break when Emilia Larsson fired into the roof of the net from close range; however, the referee adjudged Murphy to have committed a foul seconds before the strike.

Despite soaking up a lot of pressure as the half wore on, the Blades took the lead when Sherwood flicked home a volley at the near post as the game ticked over into added time.

However, the Lasses bounced back just minutes later when a long ball down the right released Jordan Nobbs, and her cross picked out an unmarked Murphy at the back post.

Newcastle's number 35 took the ball down on her chest before composing herself and firing past Rogers from inside the area.

There was almost a goal of the season contender at Bramall Lane when, after some scrappy passes on the edge of the area, the ball fell to Molly Pike 30 yards out, but Rogers pulled off a flying save to push her curling effort over the bar.

Andrews caused Newcastle problems throughout the game with her pace, and it almost reaped a reward when she cut inside Wardlaw after latching onto a long ball and forced Tamminen into a stunning fingertip save.

Both sides made changes throughout the second half, which disrupted the flow, but there was a moment of magic from Connie Scofield as she cut across a half volley, only to see her arrowed strike cannon back out off the post to safety.

Newcastle United Women: Anna Tamminen, Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes (c) (Deanna Cooper 64), Jordan Nobbs, Jemma Purfield, Emma Kelly (Jasmine McQuade 64), Molly Pike, Emilia Larsson (Oona Sevenius 87), Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden (Freya Gregory 64), Emily Murphy (Shania Hayles 75)

Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Morgan Gautrat, Małgorzata Grec, Jorja Fox