Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Reading and Sheffield United were among the sides to make the FA Women’s Continental League Cup quarter-finals.
Conti Cup results – 11 December
Group A – Aston Villa 5-2 Blackburn Rovers (Att: 183)
Liverpool 3-1 Durham (Att: 215)
Sheffield United 2-2 Coventry United (1-2 pens)
Group B – Arsenal 9-0 London Bees
Charlton Athletic 2-5 Bristol City (Att: 114)
London City Lionesses 2-4 Brighton & Hove Albion (Att: 43)
Group C – Birmingham City 1-3 Manchester United (Att: 442)
Leicester City 0-4 Everton (Att: 342)
Group D – Chelsea 1-1 Reading (2-4 pens) (Att: 1,783)
Tottenham Hotspur 6-0 Lewes (Att: 205)
West Ham United 7-0 Crystal Palace (Att: 336)
Katie Wilkinson’s late double saw Sheffield United wipe out Coventry United’s lead gained through Shannon O’Brien and Helen Dermody in a 2-2 tie. Although the visitors won the shoot-out for the extra-point, the Blades had done enough to go through as Group A winners and therefore get a home draw in the quarter-finals.
Aston Villa progressed as group runners-up after beating Blackburn Rovers 5-2. Kerri Welsh and Charlotte Greengrass got early goals before Ellie Stewart replied, Shania Hayles Amy West and Melissa Johnson were also on target for Villa, Lauren Thomas with Rovers’ other effort.
Liverpool missed out on the last eight despite victory over Durham. Rinsola Babajide struck twice before setting up Niamh Charles to make it 3-0, Molly Sharpe pulling one back in the second half.
Arsenal netted nine past London Bees in securing first place on Group B, led by a Katie McCabe hat-trick. Melisa Filis and Lisa Evans each bagged a brace, with Beth Mead and Louise Quinn also finding the net.
Brighton won 4-2 at London City to follow the Gunners through, Matilde Lundorf, Ini Umotong, Emily Simpkins and Harley Bennett’s own-goal securing their passage. However, Evie Clarke’s penalty had brought the Lionesses level but Amy Mason’s late effort was their only other goal.
Bristol City’s interest in the competition was ended but with a 5-2 result at Charlton Athletic. Ebony Salmon’s opener was cancelled out by Charlotte Devlin but Charlie Wellings, Katie Robinson, Vita van der Linden and Poppy Wilson scored after the break for the Vixens, while Devlin later doubled her tally for the Addicks.
Manchester United made certain of top spot in Group C with a 3-1 result at Birmingham City, which also sent rivals Manchester City into the knockout stages. Alexandra Brooks dropped Lizzie Arnot’s cross to gift the Red Devils the lead just seconds in, Jane Ross made it 2-0 and although Abbi Grant got the Blues back in the match, Ella Toone’s late effort sealed the points.
Everton bowed out with all four goals of the game at Leicester City. Chaney Boye-Hlorkah and Elise Hughes scored just either side of the interval, with Taylor Hinds and Inessa Kaagman adding one each.
Chelsea won Group D but Reading also went through after winning the shoot-out following a 1-1 tie. Jo Potter put the Royals ahead and Deana Cooper levelled but Rachael Laws saved two penalties to bank an extra point.
Angela Addison’s hat-trick and a brace from Lucy Quinn before half-time ensured Tottenham Hotspur coasted to victory against Lewes, Lucia Leon later completing the scoring at 6-0.
West Ham ran out 7-0 winners over Crystal Palace but it was not enough to keep them in the cup. Leanne Kiernan, Laura Vetterlein and Adriana Leon gave them a 3-0 interval advantage, Kenza Dali and substitute Kate Longhurst each added a couple.
