United took the lead against Bristol City Women seconds before the half time whistle when Oona Sevenius made it two goals in two games by firing home at the second time of asking.

However, two goals from Rio Hardy in the second half looked to have set the visitors on their way to three points at the Gateshead International Stadium - before Joel took aim.

United’s Welsh international picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, and with a roar from the crowd for her to shoot, duly obliged and fired home a dramatic equaliser past the diving Francesca Bentley.

The Robins soaked up a lot of first-half pressure, but they could've taken a shock lead when United failed to clear a cross, allowing Marine Dafeur to fire past Femke Liefting, but not the near post.

After that early scare, Newcastle appeared to click into gear with some slick passing down the right from Emily Murphy, who disguised an inside pass to Morgan Gautrat and picked out Demi Stokes at the back post before being denied by the outstretched leg of Bentley.

Gautrat was running the show against Bristol City, popping up between the lines and picking out clinical passes, which almost saw her register a second assist of the season to Sevenius, but her strike was well blocked by a wall of defenders.

With nine minutes left to play in the opening period, Deanna Cooper almost scored a goal of the season contender when her header from just beyond the halfway line lobbed Bentley in the Bristol goal and narrowly bounced over the bar, saving the keeper's blushes.

However, for the first time this season, with just seconds left to play in the first half, Newcastle found themselves in front at home.

United's two-time World Cup winner, Gautrat, teased the Bristol defence by cutting back onto her right foot on the byline and fizzing a low cross to Sevenius, who was denied first-time, but her second effort was fired high into the top corner.

While Newcastle went into the break with their tails up, Bristol City got themselves back level just 90 seconds into the second half.

A long ball down the right saw Mari Ward burst into the box and square the ball to Hardy, unmarked in the six-yard box, to tap home into an empty net.

Charlotte Healy almost saw her side race ahead for the first time in the game when a free-kick was won by Bristol City and found the feet of Sophie Ingle, who was only stopped by a brave Liefting save from point-blank range.

Following City's leveller, the game began to open up with chances at both ends, and the latest fell to Molly Pike. A perfectly weighted ball into the box was dummied by Murphy and left for an unmarked Pike to aim for the bottom corner, but a lack of pace saw Bentley easily grasp the ball.

City managed to get themselves ahead when Hardy doubled her tally after some tidy footwork from Vera Jones to get past Aoife Mannion in the box before Hardy calmly slotted home.

For the third time in five league games, United hauled themselves back level with just minutes of the game left to play.

A hacked clearance from Bristol City fell to Joel 30 yards from goal, and the Wales international needed one touch to set herself before unleashing a thunderous strike beyond the reach of Bentley to secure a point for the Lasses.

Newcastle United Women: Femke Liefting, Demi Stokes (c), Jordan Nobbs (Elysia Boddy 78), Morgan Gautrat (Jasmine McQuade 78), Molly Pike (Freya Gregory 74), Deanna Cooper, Oona Sevenius (Beth Lumsden 74), Lois Joel, Aoife Mannion, Emily Murphy, Lia Cataldo

Subs not used: Claudia Moan, Charlotte Wardlaw, Shania Hayles, Małgorzata Grec