Bristol City took the last quarter-final place in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup after Spurs were unable to get a point at Chelsea, while Manchester City won their group after a narrow win at Doncaster.
Wednesday 6th December
FA WSL CONTINENTAL TYRES CUP
GROUP 2 NORTH: Doncaster Rovers Belles 2-3 Manchester City (Att: 924)
GROUP 2 SOUTH: Chelsea 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Att: 1,541)
Battling Belles beaten 3-2 by holders
Doncaster Rovers Belles but in a spirited performance against Manchester City but could not find a late equaliser.
Claire Emslie turned in Steph Houghton’s cross to give Manchester City a 4th-minute lead at the Keepmoat Stadium.
It stayed 1-0 to the visitors until the Belles drew level 50 minutes later, Jess Sigsworth’s strike deflected past Marie Hourihan and into the bottom corner.
However, moments later City restored their advantage through Jane Ross and it was soon 3-1, Georgia Stanway rifling home.
Doncaster did not give in against the holders though and with 13 minutes left, Sam Tierney’s parried effort fell to Christie Murray to smash in.
Vixens benefit from Blues victory
Bristol City go through as runners-up in Group 2 South along with winners Chelsea, who denied Spurs a last eight place by sending them to defeat.
A strong start by the hosts saw Erin Cuthbert rattle the woodwork before Hannah Blundell cross-shot was too hot for Toni-Anne Wayne to keep out of the far corner.
The lead was doubled in the last 5 minutes of the first half, Fran Kirby with a low finish after being picked out by Blundell.
Kirby got her second after good work down by Drew Spence but Tottenham got a goal back as Becky Spencer’s clearance was returned into the net by Lauren Pickett.
Maren Mjelde and Cuthbert then both struck the crossbar from distance before the latter set up Spence to round off the scoring.
