A first goal in black and white for Kathleen McGovern was the difference between the two sides on a wet evening at Ashton Gate. It was the number nine who reacted quickest to Martha Thomas’ effort, which rebounded off the post, and she had the simple task of slotting into an empty net.

Apart from a last-minute offside goal, Anna Tamminen had a trouble-free evening in Bristol, although her high claiming of crosses was a great way for United to ease any sort of pressure.

There was just the one change from Tanya Oxtoby ahead of the game as she handed a full debut to Katie Bradley, with Lois Joel dropping to the bench after a start last weekend.

A set-piece straight off the training ground almost paid off for United when Katie Bradley went short to Lumsden, who whipped an exquisite outside-of-the-foot ball into the box, but McGovern, who had to react quickly, could only divert her header wide of the post.t

After a lull midway through the first half, it was Lumsden who looked to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. She picked up the ball on the right, faked to hit the byline before cutting onto her left, curling an effort towards goal, but was denied by a deft flick behind from Bristol.

Besides those two almost-moments of magic from Lumsden, it was a slightly subdued opening 45 minutes as both sides looked to cancel each other out, and a lot of fouls led to a lack of flow in the game.

However, it appeared that both managers had words for their players at half-time as they came out firing and wanting to test both goalkeepers. It was the Robins who attempted to take the initiative through Lotta Lindstrom, but after cutting in off the left, her effort floated aimlessly wide.

Just seconds later, though, it was United who were pressing, and that front-footed approach paid off.

Martha Thomas played a smart ball forward into Katie Bradley’s feet, who returned the pass back to her, allowing the Scotland international to strike from outside the area. She could only see her effort bounce off the post, but it was McGovern who was quickest to react and fired home into an empty net.

Newcastle were purring and looking for a second just two minutes later, and it was Lumsden at the centre of it all again. A short free kick from Jemma Purfield to Bradley saw her cross blocked, but land at the feet of Lumsden, who burst into the box but could only sting the palms of Lauren Brzykcy.

Ashton Gate held its breath in the 78th minute when the Robins got themselves into a mix-up at the back and presented Lumsden with the ball, who wasted no time in slotting McGovern through one-on-one with just Brzykcy to beat, but she couldn’t hit the target.

There was almost more late heartbreak for the Lasses as a last-minute scramble in the box saw the Robins get the ball over the line, sparking wild celebrations on the touchline, but they were quickly cut short as the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Newcastle United Women: Anna Tamminen, Jemma Purfield, Kathleen McGovern (Oona Sevenius 80), Mollie Lambert (Gemma Evans 89), Martha Thomas, Hildur Antonsdóttir (Lois Joel 64), Kaitlyn Torpey, Katie Bradley (Leanne Kiernan 89), Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden, Rachel McLauchlan (c)

Subs not used: Kayla Rendell, Charlotte Wardlaw, Demi Stokes, Emilia Larsson, Hanna Németh