Bridgwater shock Palace in Cup
Bridgwater Utd produced the result of the Third Round in the Vitality Women's FA Cup when they won 1-0 against FA Women's Championship high fliers Crystal Palace.
Laura Holden scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time and the Somerset side held on in the second half to claim a hard earned win and second tier scalp. Bridgwater's reward is a considerable one, as they have been drawn at home to Manchester Utd in the Fourth Round.
Brighouse Town gave a good account of themselves in going down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sunderland. Emily Scarr fired home the only goal of the game, midway through the second half, to give Sunderland a hard earned victory and a trip to Birmingham City with a place in the last sixteen at stake.
Liverpool came through an awkward tie in some style, winning 4-0 away to Burnley FC Women. Rachel Furness scored a goal in each half, with Niamh Fahey and Melissa Lawley adding the others for the Reds whose next opponents will be Lincoln City, who defeated Northampton Town 4-2 after extra time thanks to a Jessica Rousseau hat-trick and an own goal.
Nottingham Forest recorded a fine away win for the second week in succession, following up their victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the last round by beating Stoke City 2-1. Second half goals from Rachel Brown and Rebecca Anderson gave Forest the win, despite a reply from Callan Barber, which has landed them a plum home tie against Manchester City.
The last remaining County League team bowed out of the competition but were not disgraced in their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle. Natasha Knapman, Zoe Cunningham, Amber Pollock, Jemma Rose and Imogen Crawford all scored a goal apiece for Argyle to end the excellent Cup run of Clapton Community. Plymouth will be at home to the winners of the postponed tie between Gillingham and Charlton Athletic.
Another fine Cup run was brought to an end as Stourbridge were beaten 3-0 by Sheffield Utd. Courtney Sweetman-Kirk put the Blades in front after 90 seconds and they went on to add further goals through Mia Enderby and Charlotte Newsham. United will host WSL opponents in the next round in West Ham Utd.
London City Lionesses will face Arsenal after winning 6-1 away to Ashford Town (Middlesex). Rianna Jarrett, Wiktoria Fronc, Brooke Nunn, Annie Rossiter and Mollie Rouse all scored for the Lionesses along with an own goal.
Huddersfield Town continue to do well in Cup competitions and are into the last 32 once again after beating Loughborough Lightning 3-1. After a goalless first half, Brittany Sanderson gave Huddersfield a lead which was quickly cancelled out by Laura Steele, but late strikes from Laura Elford and Sanderson saw Town home for a meeting with Everton in the next round.
West Bromwich Albion ended the hopes of Long Eaton Utd by defeating them 5-1. Evie Gallop and Kerry Walklett each netted twice for Albion, with Leigh Dugmore adding the other. Albion will have to wait to discover who their next opponents will be, either Southampton Women or Exeter City.
Newcastle Utd returned from Chorley with a 3-0 win under their belts and a home tie against Ipswich Town in the next round. Georgia Gibson was on target twice for Newcastle, with Kacie Elson adding the other. Natasha Thomas bagged both goals as Ipswich Town secured their place in the Fourth Round, thanks to a 2-0 success away to AFC Wimbledon.
The South Coast derby tie went the way of Southampton FC Women, who came from behind to narrowly win 2-1 against Portsmouth after extra time. Cherelle Khassal gave Pompey the lead just after the half hour, with Lucia Kendall equalising midway through the second half, and Caitlin Morris grabbed the winner for the Saints with eight minutes of extra time remaining. Southampton are now at home to Bristol City who had a smoother passage on the day, winning 5-0 against Lewes. The two sides were meeting for the fourth time this season but it was City who were convincing winners on the day, thanks to an Abi Harrison double, Aggie Beever-Jones, Chloe Bull and Ffion Morgan.
Durham Women were another Championship team to make it through away to lower division opponents, scoring six times without reply past Leeds Utd. Bridget Galloway, Mollie Lambert and Beth Hepple all scored twice for the Wildcats whose next opponents will be Blackburn Rovers, they faced a tricky trip away to in-form Liverpool Feds but came through with a 1-0 win. Saffron Jordan scored the only goal of the match for Gemma Donnelly's side with nineteen minutes remaining.
Rebecca May scored a hat-trick, whilst Lucy Jones, Zoe Rushen and Georgie Morton all bagged doubles and Shannah Drewe added the other as Billericay Town ran out 10-0 winners away to Chesham Utd (see match report). Billericay's reward is a home tie with Coventry Utd who beat Watford 4-0, thanks to a Katie Wilkinson double, Katy Morris and Rio Hardy.
