BURNLEY FC Women moved to the top of the table after overcoming Newcastle with an 88th minute goal in the North East.

Lizzie Hamer’s late strike gave the Clarets their sixth straight league win to move three points clear at the top Division One North.

Burnley travelled North with a depleted squad due to injuries but manager Matt Bee devised a tough game plan that his team followed expertly.

The game started with an early chance for the Clarets as Evie Priestley’s shot was blocked by the Newcastle goalkeeper following a Katie Halligan cross.

Newcastle began to get in to their groove with slick passing but the Burnley back three of Dani Cooper, Samantha Fleck and Vikki Eastwood performed superbly.

Goalkeeper Lauren Bracewell was called in to action for the first time as she rushed to the edge of her box to intercept a pass with her feet.

The Newcastle attack had to wait for a strong chance as two fell to their number 10 in quick succession. A shot just missed the post from a wide angle and another cleared the crossbar from distance.

The artificial surface at The Druid Park Stadium hindered the Clarets as they tried to break forward. Passes from the Burnley midfield were overhit and ran through to the goalkeeper.

Newcastle’s number 10 was given another chance as she ran on to a through ball and looked certain to score until a well-positioned Bracewell was there to collect.

The referee blew the whistle for half time as the two teams went in level.

The second half started lively as the Clarets pushed forward which made the game end to end.

Once again, Bracewell was called in to action as she blocked the Newcastle strikers shot which was then Cleared by Natalie Bell.

As Burnley ventured forward, they were met by an equally resolute Magpies defence.

Bracewell was in inspired form in the Burnley goal as she was saved a header from a corner before brilliantly tipping a shot over the crossbar.

The end of the game was approaching as the Clarets applied pressure. Hamer struck a goalbound shot but a Newcastle defender took the full impact.

Leah Embley surged in to the box, avoiding a lunging challenge, to pass back to Hamer who slotted in to the bottom corner to give the Clarets a 1-0 lead in the dying stages.

Matt Bee’s side held out in the final minutes of the game take all three points.

Burnley currently have no scheduled games until Sunday, November 18, when they travel to Chorley for the third round of the Lancashire FA Women’s Challenge Cup.