Welch, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, had previously refereed an FA Cup fixture in 2022 and an EFL match in 2021 ahead of this high-profile meeting.

A timid start in west London offered little for Welch to act on before her decision not to award a Vitinho handball was met by frustration from the Fulham players.

Welch refused to let onfield reactions affect her judgement and she was happy to play advantages in favour of both sides, allowing the game to flow.

Calvin Bassey was awarded a yellow card after 25 minutes for striking Josh Brownhill. The Fulham defender refused to walk towards Welch when signalled by her on three occasions but eventually approached the referee and gained a caution.

Welch’s name was welcomed by cheers when read out by the announcer ahead of kick off.

But the home supporters’ frustrations grew when her first few decisions went in favour of Burnley and they offered sarcastic cheers when their side was awarded a foul in midfield.

The debutante got every decision right up to that point but she was met with whistles and “don’t know what you are doing” chants after she waved off Harry Wilson’s appeals just inside the visitors’ half.

The 40-year-old asserted her authority throughout, though, and did not let the occasion get the better of her in a tense match.