Adobe Women’s FA Cup
Swindon Town are having a superb season to date and they kept up their winning run when a stunning fightback
saw them come from two behind to beat Leafield Athletic 3-2.
An inspired first half saw Leafield race into a two-goal lead thanks to Gemma Fraser and Evie Gallop but the game was turned on its head after the break as Swindon overcame the deficit and a hat-trick from Annabelle Colston took them into the Fourth Round.
There was late drama at Oxford United where the home side also staged a fightback as two goals in the last five minutes helped them win 2-1 against Plymouth Argyle. The Devon side went into the match with an unbeaten run last sixteen matches and looked to be on their way to another win when Ellie Noble gave them an early lead from the penalty spot. However, there was to be a sting in the tail for Argyle and after Ruby Sealey headed Oxford level late on, Emma Thompson then scored a winner deep into injury time to give the U’s a dramatic victory which had looked unlikely for a long time.
The highest placed club in the pyramid taking part was Barclays WSL2 leaders Charlton Athletic, who faced a tricky tie against FAWNL high fliers Watford. This proved to be the case as Megan Chandler put Watford ahead but after half time, Charlton hit back strongly. Karin Muya levelled the scores and further strikes from Katie Bradley and Gillian Kenney gave them the win, despite Coral Haines pulling one back for the Hornets.
Another thrilling Cup tie came at Dartford where visitors London Bees returned with a 3-2 extra time victory under their belts. Samantha Lanza and Millie Isherwood gave the Bees a two-goal lead but the Darts came fighting back with Amina Hanif and Paris Smith levelling the scores and taking the game into the extra period, where Brionne Fowle headed in a decisive third for the Bees to take them through.
York City are through to the Fourth Round for the first time in their history and brought Altrincham’s excellent cup run to an end by beating them 3-0. Ruby Watt and Katie Astle put the MinsterBelles two goals ahead at half time, before Katie Varley wrapped up the win with the third goal.
Lily Crosthwaite, Veatriki Sarri, Rebecca McKenna, Neve Herron, Chelsea Cornet and Ava Baker all got on the scoresheet as Birmingham City eased through with a 6-0 victory against a valiant Sporting Khalsa side. Royston Town have enjoyed a superb Cup run but it proved to be too big a barrier to overcome as they were beaten 10-0 by Barclays WSL 2 side Southampton. Atlanta Primus hit a hat-trick, Michaela McAlonie added two and there was one apiece from Jess Simpson, Mary Bashford, Ellie Brazil, Ellie Hack and Aimee Palmer.
The two leaders of the FAWNL Premier Divisions enjoyed convincing victories against two of the leading sides from the level below. Burnley FC Women scored seven times without reply past Peterborough United, Claudia Walker bagging a brace along with Charlie Chadwick, Yana Daniels, Millie Ravening, Charley Docherty and Emma Siddall. AFC Bournemouth meanwhile defeated Fulham 5-0 to reach the Fourth Round for the first time in their history. Sophie Quirk, Molly Barron-Clark, Jenna Markham, Katie James and Amber Treweek all scored a goal apiece for the Cherries.
The two matches selected to be televised both turned out to be close affairs with narrow victories for the second tier sides. Nottingham Forest came away from Wolverhampton Wanderers with a 2-1 victory, given to them by first half goals from Georgia Brougham and Aimee Claypole, but Wolves gave as good they got after the break and Forest needed to withstand late pressure after Georgia Marshall had reduced the arrears. Crystal Palace meanwhile won 1-0 away to Lewes, thanks to a headed goal from My Cato, three minutes ahead of half time.
This was as close as National League teams came to claiming a higher league scalp; Shania Hayles (2), Emily Murphy and Jasmine McQuade accounted for the goals as Newcastle Utd defeated Liverpool Feds 4-0, Ipswich Town netted five times without reply at AFC Portchester thanks to Lucy O’Brien, Kyra Robertson, Rianna Dean, Ruby Seaby and Maddie Earl, and Sunderland survived an early scare to run out 5-1 winners at Derby County. Chene Muir did give the Ewes a dream start with an early goal but Sunderland hit back strongly, Keira Barry and Katy Watson each scoring twice and Hannah Greenwood adding the other.
Maria Farrugia and Mari Ward scored the goals as Bristol City beat Portsmouth 2-0 and another all-WSL2 tie went the way of Sheffield United, who were 1-0 victors at Durham Women courtesy of a second half strike from Charlie Devlin.
The North West League went into the day with three teams still surviving but all exited the competition at this stage. As well as Altrincham, Middlesbrough continued their fine cup run by eliminating AFC Fylde with a 3-0 victory, Abby Holmes and Armani Maxwell both scoring alongside an own goal, meanwhile Hope Knight and Jessica Tugby-Andrew saw Hull City to a 2-1 success at Mancunian Unity, whose consolation came from Sadie Mitchell.
Chatham Town maintained their excellent Cup run to reach the Fourth Round as Otesha Charles, Amelia Woodgate and Amy Russ gave Keith Boanas’ side a 3-0 success away to Sutton United, whilst West Bromwich Albion were also 3-0 winners away to Leeds United, the first half was goalless but Albion went on to progress with second half strikes from Monique Robinson, Ellie May and Mia Sorrentino.
