Wolves Women cause FA Cup upset, Chelsea and Spurs survive scares

14th January 2024 Wilf Frith
Reading v Wolves, Adobe Women's FA Cup
Wolves celebrate with their fans. (Photo: www.jamesprickett.co.uk)

Wolves eliminated Reading, Sheffield United gave Spurs a huge fright, Chelsea also fought back to beat West Ham in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Fourth Round results – 14 January

Manchester United 5-0 Newcastle United (Att: 4,731)
Durham 0-4 Manchester City (Att: 2,381)
Sunderland 0-2 Southampton (Att: 300)
Chelsea 3-1 (aet) West Ham United (Att: 2,824)
Crystal Palace 3-1 Blackburn Rovers
Arsenal 5-1 Watford (Att: 3,739)
Luton Town 0-6 Brighton & Hove Albion (Att: 1,235)
Plymouth Argyle 1-6 Nottingham Forest (Att: 1,824)
Ipswich Town 1-4 Charlton Athletic (Att: 770)
Bristol City 0-1 Liverpool (Att: 2,563)
Burnley 1-3 (aet) Birmingham City
Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Sheffield United (Att: 894)
Reading 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Att: 154)
Derby County 0-4 Leicester City
London City Lionesses 4-0 Moneyfields

Third-tier Wolves overcame a deficit late on to eliminate second-tier Reading. Madison Perry put the Royals one up 10 minutes short of the interval, Beth Merrick pegged them back in the latter stages. Destiny Toussaint then headed in from an Ellie Wilson delivery with in the 87th minute to cause a cup shock.

Reading 1-2 Wolves, Adobe Women's FA Cup
Destiny Toussaint celebrates after heading the winner. (Photo: www.jamesprickett.co.uk)

Spurs came from two goals down to break Sheffield United hearts at the death. Sophie Haywood bagged a goal for the Blades and an upset was clearly on the cards when Jess Sigsworth doubled the lead not long after half time. Bethany England wiped out the lead with a brace, her second coming from a penalty won by Jess Naz 10 minutes from the end. Rosella Ayane dramatically hit the winner for the hosts, six minutes into added time.

Chelsea not only had to come from behind but also needed extra time to overcome West Ham. Viviane Asseyi got in behind from Mackenzie Arnold’s long kick to turn the ball inside the far post and give the Hammers a surprise advantage. Mia Fishel got the holders back on level terms with 20 minutes to go, Erin Cuthbert headed Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross into the bottom corner ten minutes into extra time, Aggie Beevor-Jones’ goal-bound effort later volleyed over the line by Sjoeke NĂŒsken.

Adobe Womens FA Cup - Chelsea v West Ham - Kingsmeadow
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (19 Chelsea) and Kirsty Smith (2 West Ham United) fight for the ball. (Alexander Canillas / SPP)

National League Burnley took Birmingham City to extra time before bowing out 3-1. Libby Smith scored from close range for City, only for the Clarets’ Millie Ravening to force the added half hour with a stoppage-time penalty. Birmingham were back ahead on 104 minutes through Claudia Walker, Jade Moore made sure of their progress at the end.

Adobe Womens FA Cup - Bunrley v Birmingham City - Lancashire FA County Ground
Goalkeeper Kirstie Levell (28 Burnley) blocks the ball against Birmingham City. (Sean Chandler / SPP)

Charlton Athletic came through at Ipswich Town, although they were given a fright. Sophie Peskett gave Ipswich a shock early lead after a loose pass from the Championship title-chasers, whose Melissa Johnson responded with a first-half brace while Freya Godfrey made it 3-1 from the spot. Elisha N’Dow netted number for the Addicks, to cement their place in the next round.

Liverpool won through at Bristol City, despite the dismissal of Ceri Holland on the hour mark for a second yellow card. Gemma Bonner gave the Robins little time to respond, scoring with five minutes remaining.

Manchester United made their two-division seniority pay with five goals against Newcastle United. Ella Toone hit the roof of the net from the edge of the box, breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute. Toone soon turned provider, as her cross was headed home by Nikita Parris. Lucia Garcia assisted Parris in making it 3-0 after the interval, Rachel Williams netted the rebound from her own effort against the bar. Melvine Malard added a late fifth from Katie Zelem’s corner.

Manchester United Women v Newcastle United Women - Adobe Women's FA Cup Fourth Round
Lucia Garcia of Manchester United is challenged by Amber-Keegan Stobbs of Newcastle United. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Manchester City went through 4-0 at Durham, Laura Coombs gave the visitors a seventh-minute lead, Jill Roord doubling it as many minutes before the break. It was 3-0 midway through the second half, Lauren Hemp dinking the ball over the defence for Roord to lift over the keeper. Mary Fowler put away a late fourth goal.

Leicester City were 4-0 winners away to Derby County, over whom they told a two-division advantage. The Foxes were in front inside the half hour through Lena Petermann, new signing Yuka Momiki then setting up Janice Cayman for the second before the hour mark. Deanne Rose came off the bench to soon add the third, the Rams’ Charlotte Steggles conceded an own-goal.

Arsenal eased past Championship strugglers Watford. Alessia Russo took just six minutes to get the Gunners’ first goal, Victoria Pelova’s effort from distance having been parried by Jacqui Goldsmid. Lia Walti turned in the second after a dummy by Pelova, who also played a part as Stina Blackstenius struck on 66 minutes. Michelle Agyemang pulled one back for the Hornets, only for Arsenal’s Amanda Ilestedt and Frida Maanum to both then net.

Adobe Womens FA Cup - Arsenal v Watford - Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park
Dre Georgiou (15 Watford) and Lia Walti (13 Arsenal) in action. (Jay Patel / SPP)

Eastern League Luton Town bowed out to six-goal Brighton. Veatriki Sarri netted when following up Amy Butler’s save from Poppy Pattinson’s strike. Vicky Losada headed in the second before half time. Tatiana Pinto got the third shortly after the resumption. Elisabeth Terland and Pinto’s second further extending the lead, Pauline Bremer begging the sixth.

Southampton won away to fellow second-tier promotion hopefuls Sunderland. Katie Wilkinson put the Saints ahead 10 minutes into the second half, wrapping their progress up with her second two minutes from the end of the ninety.

Crystal Palace came from behind and survived a penalty against them to knockout fellow Championship side Blackburn, Meg Hornby opened the scoring for Rovers after 55 minutes but saw her penalty saved by Demi Lambourne, who had conceded it. Hayley Nolan equalised on 75 minutes for the Eagles, who look little time to then take the lead through Elise Hughes, with Molly-Mae Sharpe adding a third.

Adobe Womens FA Cup - Crystal Palace - Blackburn Rovers - The VBS Community Stadium
Crystal Palace defender Hayley Nolan (15) equalises. (Stephen Flynn/SPP)

Nottingham Forest hit six in all-third-tier tie at Plymouth Argyle in front of a crowd of over 1,800. Louanne Worsey netted first at Home Park for Forest and doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time. Holly Manders made it 3-0 soon after the restart, Sophie Domingo, Mai Moncaster and Charlotte Greengrass also on target, before a consolation from Jade Berrow.

London City Lionesses accounted for fourth-tier Moneyfields with four goals. Ruesha Littlejohn fired the Lionesses ahead on the stroke of half-time, Grace Neville, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Danielle Carter adding one apiece.

Fifth Round Draw

The draw will be made on Monday 15 January, around 7.30pm on BBC Radio 5Live on the ‘Monday Night Club show, hosted by Mark Chapman and also streamed on the BBC iPlayer. Former Cup winner and England defender Abbie McManus will be present to help make the draw.

Everton win 3-0 at Aston Villa in Adobe Women’s FA Cup

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