The seaside stage was set, as Crawley geared up to play host to a quarter final clash between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Manchester United warmly welcome back Jayde Riviere into the starting eleven, as the Canadian defender makes her return from a spell on the sidelines due to injury.

BHA: Baggaley; Thorisdóttir, Bergsvand, Losada, Sarri, Bremer, Zigiotti, Terland, Kullberg, Pinto, Robinson

MUN: Earps; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Zelem, Toone, Naalsund, Parris, Malard, García

Both sides looked hungry as proceedings went underway in Crawley, as the Seagulls and the Red Devils searched to book themselves a spot in the final four of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

It wouldn’t be long before the deadlock proved to be broken, as a scuffle inside of the area saw the ball cleared out to a roaming Katie Zelem down the right side. Zelem’s delivery would prove lethal, as her floating cross fell nicely to a towering Millie Turner amidst the danger zone. Turner’s piercing header would make no mistake in sending the net rippling, as the visitors clinched the advantage in the eighth minute of play.

A brilliant passage of play not long after would see Manchester United double their advantage as the clock ran in to its seventeenth minute. Melvine Malard placed a brilliant ball through to an advancing Nikita Parris, as the English forward made no mistake in providing the visitors their second.

The closing minutes of the half saw the Red Devils look to add a third to third tally, as Katie Zelem’s pin point delivery was only narrowly cleared away from the danger zone. Though not for long, as Hannah Blundell cleaned up the clearance in an unmarked position on the edge of the area. Despite her best efforts, Blundell’s strike from range took a minor deflection to fly clear of the target.

The visitors would add a vital blow in the sails of the Seagulls, as Malard streamed forward with conviction. Playing a clever one-two with Ella Toone down the left, Malard’s strike trickled to an awaiting Lucía García who was to deliver the final touch to give the Red Devils their third of the afternoon.

As the whistle blew to indicate the half time interval, Marc Skinner’s Manchester United side found themselves with one foot in the door of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi final.

Proceedings were back underway in South England, as the Seagulls desperately searched to close the deficit on home turf.

It would be Manchester United who would have the next look once again, after a dynamic Malard reaped her opportunity with a long ranged strike. Though Sophie Baggaley denied the French striker of her first, as her stretching save saw the attempt palmed away from the intended target.

Tensions began to rise as the Seagulls found themselves bathed in frustration. Losada searched to make a difference, as she attempted to pick out an advancing Katie Robinson through the wide area. Though her run was well read by Hannah Blundell, as Robinson fouled the Red Devils defender on the touchline.

The nail in the coffin would be hammered with strength as the clock ran in to it’s final half an hour in Crawley. This time it would be Lisa Naalsund who would deliver the blow, as she cleaned up a scuffle outside of the area with a brilliant strike to send the net rippling.

The visitors did well to hold possession on the attack, as the Red Devils expertly worked the ball in to the final third. Naalsund’s well-weighted cross did well to find Malard, though the French striker’s header did nothing to bother Baggaley between the goalposts.

The final whistle blew at Broadfield Stadium, as a dominant Manchester United outfit book themselves a spot in the semi final stages of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.