Newcastle United Women rescued a dramatic point at St James' Park, avoiding a controversial defeat against Southampton in front of a bumper crowd.

An early goal from Freya Gregory pulled any of the pre-match vibrancy from the Geordie crowd, but in a polar opposite, an equaliser at the death from Deanna Cooper sent the Gallowgate into rapture.

It meant Becky Langley's side avoided suffering back-to-back league losses for the first time since the PIF-backed takeover and escaped a slide down the table.

Seven minutes in, Southampton played out of a Newcastle press well, with Fran Stenson in the Saints' net calmly evading pressure from Shania Hayles to set the visitors on an attack.

That same calmness could not be found in Magpies' keeper Claudia Moan who got the ball stuck under foot while the hosts tried to play out following that Southampton attack. Gregory pounced on Moan's hesitancy, sliding the ball into an unguarded goal.

Fan favourite Charlotte Potts was took a knock to the leg 15 minutes from half-time and had to be replaced, with Olivia Watt's introduction providing Langley a chance to regroup with her players. However, it was the Saints who came out of the injury-break brighter, with Moan forced into a brilliant stop in the 31st minute.

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The second half stuttered to a start and the first real chance came in the 65th minute as Newcastle captain Amber-Keegan Stobbs bent a shot wide from left-side of the box.

Newcastle came close again four minutes later - unconventionally - after a sliced effort from Jasmine McQuade dipped viciously and was tipped over by Stenson. 

Stobbs was bundled over around the edge of the box and the ref blew her whistle. Not for a penalty, just for a head injury stoppage. It infuriated the crowd and the bench in equal measure as Langley claimed a "rugby tackle".

Entering the final 15 minutes, Lumsden jinked in and out of defenders, her ball across the box couldn't be turned in by sub Amy Andrews though and Newcastle were left searching for a goal that looked like it may never come.

More controversy hit with referee Lauren Whiteman giving a corner to the visitors that even they didn't think they should have had. If there was a roof on St James' Park, Langley might well have hit it. Good thing the ball was hooked off the line by Deanna Cooper. 

The last minutes were purely crazy. Final seconds seemed to turn into final hours as decision after decision went against Newcastle. A penalty claim dismissed. Fouls given in ways the crowd didn't anticipate.

And just as all hope looked lost, a swinging corner bounced everywhere in the box, coming out to the edge. The resulting shot was fired in and bounced anywhere but a black and white foot. Then, in the middle of the melee, Cooper was there and the defender prodded home to cause an eruption in the stands. 

One hundred minutes of football. Controversy. Despair. Delight. Just a normal Newcastle United display then.

Newcastle host WSL side Liverpool next in a League Cup clash on November 24.

Newcastle United Women starting XI: Moan, Stokes, Stobbs, Hayles, Barker, Cooper, Sibley, McQuade, Joel, Potts, Lumsden.

Southampton Women starting XI: Stenson, Collett, Bourne, Mott, Purfield, Peplow, Palmer, Kendall, Rowe, Gregory, Pike.