FA Women’s Championship leaders Aston Villa went five points clear, Durham moved into second and London City Lionesses won with a dramatic fightback.
FA WC Results – 2 February
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Durham (Att: 265)
Leicester City 1-0 Lewes
London City Lionesses 3-2 Coventry United
Aston Villa 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Women’s FA Cup 4th Round
Crystal Palace 4-0 Southampton Women’s FC
Aston Villa extend advantage
Aston Villa increased their lead at the top of the table to five points but needed a very late double to ensure they saw off off basement side Charlton Athletic.
Shania Hayles coolly finished past keeper Katie Startup just 32 seconds into the game, Alice Griffiths later hit a long-range effort for the Addicks but Sian Rogers saved.
Emma Follis eventually got Villa’s second on 87 minutes and Melissa Johnson added the third.
Durham go second
Durham took the points 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers, where victory was not confirmed until the Wildcats’ second goal in added time.
Nicki Gears had a goal for Durham ruled out and teammate Eleanor Dale was denied by the post, before Rovers’ Saffron Jordan forced a fine stop by Megan Borthwick.
With nearly an hour played, Eleanor Dale opened her account for the Wildcats with a powerful header from a Molly Sharpe delivery.
Abby Holmes struck the post before both Beth Hepple and Dale were denied on the rebound but Sharpe headed home from close range in stoppage-time.
Susanna seals Lionesses fightback
London City Lionesses pulled off a dramatic comeback against Coventry United, hitting a stoppage-time winner having trailed 2-0.
Fiona Worts and Shannon O’Brien both struck in the first 13 minutes for the visitors but Vanessa Susanna began the comeback not long after.
Ellie Mason crossed for Annie Rossiter to equalise 10 minutes into the second half and although the Lionesses were denied by the post with the 90 minutes up, Susanna found time to thump in her second goal and the decider.
Blanchard bags winner for Foxes
Leicester City edged Lewes with a tidy Annabel Blanchard finish midway through the second half.
Foxes’ Paige Bailey-Gayle was denied one-on-one by Sophie Harris very early in the game, while Jess King went closest for Lewes in the first 45.
Blanchard struck when chesting the ball down and firing in off the post and soon afterwards Bailey-Gayle had an effort disallowed.
King flicked Lewes’s last chance narrowly over the bar as the points stayed in Leicestershire.
Palace set up Brighton cup clash
Crystal Palace successfully made it through their 4-0 replayed Women’s FA Cup tie, defeating Southampton Women’s FC 4-0 at Carshalton Athletic FC. They now look forward to a home fifth round tie with top flight Brighton.
