Newcastle United Women 1 Sunderland 0 | OneFootball

The Lasses were roared on at St. James' Park by both a Barclays Women's Championship and club record attendance of 38,502.

United were the dominant side on the ball throughout the game and were duly rewarded when Hayles' 78th minute strike in front of the Gallowgate End rippled in the net.

After her derby day heroics on Wearside earlier this season, Beth Lumsden looked poised to open the scoring after two minutes.

A long ball forward from Demi Stokes took out the entire Sunderland backline, but with just Demi Lambourne to beat, Lumsden saw her effort smartly saved.

Sunderland's first chance of the game was presented to them via a set piece when Natasha Fenton leaped highest near the back post but could only direct her header high and wide.

United continued to cause trouble from wide areas and Lumsden's cross after 19 minutes was no different, although Emily Murphy got just too much on the ball to worry Lambourne from a tight angle.

As the game ticked over the half hour mark, Newcastle came close to opening the scoring when Rachel Furness won a second ball in the box, but her header was sliced clear off the line.

From the resulting corner, Lumsden and Freya Gregory worked it short with the latter picking out Stokes at the back post, but while the St. James' Park crowd held its breath, the ball dropped the wrong side of the far post.

The second half was finely poised, and both sides looked to cancel each other out in hope of a moment of magic to break the deadlock.

That's exactly what happened with less than 20 minutes to play when Hayles took the roof off St. James’ Park after scoring in front of the Gallowgate End.

Some forward-thinking play from Murphy attracted two Sunderland defenders, giving Hayles space to run in behind, and once the Jamaica international got in the box, she cut onto her left foot before whipping the ball into the near corner.

Despite some threats of Sunderland pressure, United professionally saw out the game to maintain their unbeaten record at St. James' Park.

Newcastle United Women: Claudia Moan, Lia Cataldo, Charlotte Wardlaw, Deanna Cooper (Hannah Greenwood 78), Demi Stokes, Rachel Furness, Amber-Keegan Stobbs, Jasmine McQuade, Freya Gregory (Shania Hayles 69), Emily Murphy (Amy Andrews 90), Beth Lumsden (Katie Barker 90)

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly, Hannah Hawkins, Emma Kelly, Lois Joel, Isabella Sibley