An Ellen White double helped holders Manchester City to a 3-2 away win at Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup 4th Round.
Chances in the first half largely came about through defensive errors but whereas Jess Sigsworth’s shot was parried by City ‘keeper Ellie Roebuck following her misplaced clearance and Jane Ross fired the loose ball over the bar, when Abbie McManus’s first-time back-pass fell short of United’s no.1 Mary Earps, White was swift to net from outside the box to put City 1-0 up.
Tessa Wullaert missed a glorious chance to double the lead but White got her second not long after the interval from a counter-attack, sweeping home Lauren Hemp’s ball into the box.
Kirsty Hanson forced a full-stretch save from Ellie Roebuck, who was adjudged to have been fouled when Katie Zelem’s corner for the Reds flew straight in but then substitute Lauren James collected a ball over the top and fired home inside the near post – the hosts were back in the tie at 1-2, with 20 minutes remaining.
There was some controversy when McManus connected with Zelem’s free-kick at the far post but the ball was deemed to have been stopped by Roebuck on the line and not over it.
Jill Scott restored City’s two-goal cushion with a shot from 20 yards out, while another Zelem corner ended up in the back of the net with a 90th-minute own-goal by Hemp.
The Fifth Round draw will take place from 6.40pm on Monday 27 January on the BBC News Channel’s Sportsday slot.
This season’s Women’s FA Cup Final will take place at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 9 May 2020. Tickets are now on sale: https://ticketing.thefa.com/. Up to two children per booking can go free of charge with adult tickets priced at £15. Adult group tickets are £7.50 each.
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