The Magpies were left shell-shocked in the first half when Leticia McKenna’s cross beat Kayla Rendell at her near post just 10 minutes in the game, and things got worse moments later when she scored from the spot after Tuva Espas was fouled by Gemma Evans.

However, a change in tactics and style heading into the second half saw United be far more aggressive in their press and getting the ball forward.

They managed to halve the deficit in the 50th minute when Kathleen McGovern fired into the roof of the net from close-range, before Martha Thomas levelled things up with just four minutes left to play.

The Lasses pushed for the winning goal, and the travelling supporters were on their feet when Kaitlyn Torpey’s wicked strike fizzed over the bar with seconds remaining.

Rendell and Evans were handed their first starts in the BWSL2 by Tanya Oxtoby against Nottingham Forest with Anna Tamminen injured and Jemma Purfield dropping to the bench.

It was the worst start possible for United at the City Ground when McKenna’s cross-come shot sliced toward the near post and caught out Kayla Rendell on her league debut.

Then, before the 15th minute, Newcastle found themselves 2-0 down. Gemma Evans brought down Tuva Espas in the box, with referee Stacey Pearson not hesitating to point to the spot.

It was McKenna who stepped up and fired low to the bottom left, sending Rendell the wrong way and doubling her tally for the afternoon.

United failed to test Katie Cox in the Forest goal throughout the opening 45 minutes, and that saw Oxtoby bring on Lois Joel at half time, replacing Hildur Antonsdóttir.

The change almost appeared to make a difference in the way United pressed when Cox played a loose ball out to Martha Thomas, but the number 24 recovered well to deny the Scot’s effort.

Newcastle were rewarded for a bright start to the second half just five minutes in when Beth Lumsden’s slaloming run saw her drift past three Forest defenders before putting the ball on a plate for McGovern to finish from two yards.

The game appeared to be petering out in the second half with United enjoying the majority of possession in Forest’s half, but struggling to get in behind a resolute backline.

However, a moment of chaos in the box benefited the Magpies. Jordan Nobbs’ cross was initially intercepted by Forest, but as they went to clear it, it ricocheted off Thomas on the goal line and allowed her to prod home to level things up.

Newcastle United Women: Kayla Rendell, Jordan Nobbs, Kathleen McGovern (Jessie Gale 81), Hildur Antonsdóttir (Lois Joel 46), Martha Thomas (Leanne Kiernan 90), Kaitlyn Torpey, Katie Bradley (Mollie Lambert 71), Gemma Evans, Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden, Rachel McLauchlan (c)

Subs not used: Soffia Kelly, Charlotte Wardlaw, Jemma Purfield, Hanna Németh, Abbie Richardson.