Newcastle United Women triumph in first derby of the season at Stadium of Light

Becky Langley holds the bragging rights in the North East after Newcastle United women beat Sunderland Women in the Barclays Women's Championship.

At the Stadium of Light this afternoon there were as many people in attendance as there would be for a Men's game in the Championship but it seemed to be mostly made up of travelling Newcastle fans as the Wear Tyne derby took place. While further 10,000+ watched online.

Newcastle United women proved once again that they belong in the upper echelons of the Women's football pyramid after back-to-back promotions into the Championship.

It was the Magpies' afternoon as they ended the game 2-1 winners thanks to a goal either side of half time from Beth Lumsden before the Black Cats pulled one back on 78 minutes.

Beth Lumsden scored a spectacular second for Newcastle

Lumsden's first came just before the half hour mark as she brought the ball into the box, jinked one way to wrong foot the defender and then blasted the ball high into the net for 1-0.

It took just four minutes into the second half for Lumsden to get her name on the scoresheet again in spectacular fashion scoring direct from a corner as the ball swung in right at the back post.

Sunderland pegged one back thanks to a goal which has been credited to Jenna Dear but in real time it looked more like a poor attempt at a clearance by Newcastle's Olivia Watt looped the ball over the 'keeper. But we'd rather give credit to a Sunderland player than gift them an own goal so Dear can have it.

Newcastle are three points behind top spot with a game in hand

After the men's victory in the FA Cup last season and now the Women in the Championship, those bragging rights that the Mackems have clung to for so long are eroding in front of their very eyes.

Newcastle Women remain in sixth in the Championship after today's win but are now only three points behind Brighton, London City Lionesses and Charlton who all have 13 points and all have played an extra game. Durham have 12 points and have played the same number of games as Newcastle with Southampton remaining on 10 points along with Becky Langley's lasses.

Sunderland remain in eighth place, six points behind Newcastle. A canny day for the lasses.