Reflecting on the loss, Lady Magpies' midfielder Beth Guy said: "It hurts a lot, especially knowing how much we gave on the pitch.

"Each and every player left everything on the pitch. In the second half we created chance after chance, but we just couldn't find the back of the net."

More than 2,700 supporters were present at Kingston Park to support Becky Langley's side, and Guy applauded the backing they provided.

"The atmosphere was incredible," she said. "I had goosebumps walking out and both hearing and seeing how many people came to support us."

She added the importance of visibility for women's football and the impact it will have on future generations: "(The exposure) is super important - we want to inspire as many girls as possible and give them something to look up to in the North East."

Among the supporters was Newcastle United co-owner, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who met with the team after the full-time whistle.

Guy lauded the ongoing support the owners have provided since their takeover of the club back in October.

"It is amazing to have their support and to speak to them," said Guy. "They're so down to earth and have a genuine passion for the club and the game, for both the men's and women's teams."

Despite being disappointed with the result, Guy maintained that there were many positives that the Lady Magpies can take from pushing a FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division team all the way.

She said: "In previous seasons when we went down 1-0, we would have crumbled, but we didn't stop working for one another and we gave one hundred percent.

"We went toe-to-toe with a team in the league above who are top of the league and pushing for the championship.

"We created so many chances in the second half but unfortunately it wasn't our day."

She added the message that manager Langley delivered to the players in the dressing room after the game. Guy said: "(Becky's) key message was how proud we should be of ourselves for how far this team has come in the past season."

United Women face North East rivals Durham Cestria away from home next Sunday in the FA Women's National League Division One North, and Guy urged her side to bounce back.

She said: "We will have a solid week in training and take all the positives from Ipswich into that game.

"We take each game as it comes, and we want to push and win every game - we will leave nothing unturned in preparation for the next game."

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC