We have well and truly reached the beating heart of the English football season as the Adobe Women’s FA Cup’s latter stages start to take shape.
This weekend each of the sixteen sides in action had the chance to make the quarter finals of the cup and take one more step towards Wembley way.
The Halfway Line tie of the round: Aston Villa 3-2 Brighton – The thriller at Villa
The first match of the round and one of three all Barclays Women’s Super League ties pitted Brighton against Aston Villa, with both sides looking safe from relegation, cup competitions naturally take on greater importance. Brighton took the lead against the run of play after Lucy Parker’s mistouch fell to Nikita Parris in the box who finished with a sumptuous chip over Sabrina D’Angelo. However Aston Villa hit back immediately as Anna Patten bundled the ball in at the far post from corner not dealt with by the Seagulls defence.
Aston Villa pulled ahead for the first time after a brilliant cross from Jordan Nobbs was met with the head of Villa captain Rachel Daly who made no mistake. Five minutes later they doubled their advantage as Chasity Grant sprinted through on goal ignoring the cross as an option she found the far corner with a powerful drive of unerring accuracy. Brighton responded as Madison Haley wonderfully juggled the ball in midfield before playing an inch perfect through ball setting Parris in on goal, the Lioness halved the arrears but it was too late. Natalia Arroyo had her first win as Aston Villa head coach the home side confirmed their place in the hat for the next round. Brighton’s unsure restart since the Winter break continues and Dario Vidošić will be keen to arrest the slide after such a promising first half of the season.
National League sides fall at WSL hurdle with plenty to be proud of
Two National League sides remained in the competition prior to this weekend and both welcomed WSL royalty. While the holders Manchester United travelled to face Wolves, Rugby Borough welcomed two time WSL champions Liverpool.
Wolves, currently battling with Nottingham Forest at the top of the National League North took a break from their league title push to face Marc Skinners Red Devils. The home side started well limiting the goal mouth chances for the visitors in the first 20 minutes but their stubborn resistance was broken on 25 minutes. After a lovely one-two between Melvine Malard and Grace Clinton resulted in the Frenchwoman’s inch perfect cross finding the boot of Elisabeth Terland who swept the ball home for 1-0.
Manchester United didn’t look back from there as goals either side of half time by Leah Galton and Aoife Mannion increased the arrears for the home side. Ella Toone made it four from outside the box before two late goals from Welsh youngster Mared Griffths on her debut sealed a convincing victory. Wolves fans may console themselves with their black country rivals West Bromwich Albion’s defeat in the previous round to the same opposition which finished 7-0.
The other National League side Rugby Borough, the lowest ranked side remaining in the competition provided staunch opposition for Liverpool, holding their WSL opposition at bay until the 84th minute. Rugby Borough gave as good as they got for large periods of this one as Angelina Nixon weaved her way through the reds defences with 25 minutes to play her attempt was brilliantly stopped by Rachel Laws. Borough rode their luck at times too as Liverpool’s Norwegian striker Sophie Roman Haug rattled the post in the first half with Leanne Kiernan doing the same in the second period.
It took a moment of magic from Liverpool’s brilliant Austrian midfielder Marie Höbinger who came off the bench to break the deadlock. Her pinpoint strike from distance found the bottom corner and with resistance waning from the home side Liverpool doubled their lead with seconds remaining as Mia Enderby finished on the half volley. Liverpool march on in search of their first Women’s FA Cup trophy having twice been defeated finalists.
Both National League sides should be incredibly proud of wonderful runs in the cup, doing themselves proud in competition with some of the best sides in the country.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City progress
Each of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City secured their place in the quarter finals of England’s premier domestic cup competition. Chelsea conceded their first goal for 687 minutes of football against Everton this Sunday. The West London side were left stunned after Everton’s Sara Holmgaard’s sensational Olympico goal put the toffees ahead. However Chelsea are playing irresistible football right now and they were level shortly after from the penalty spot through Cat Macario before Mayra Ramirez scored a wonderful lobbed goal on the half volley to give her side the lead. Second half strikes from Maika Hamano and Sandy Baltimore ensured Sonia Bompastor’s side progressed with a 4-1 win.
Across London Arsenal were given quite the challenge by WSL Championship side London City Lionesses. London City Lionesses came to Meadow Park full of determination and would have felt unlucky to go into the break behind after Laia Codina’s expert looping header found the net for the home side. Arsenal doubled their lead in the second half through Stina Blackstenius who scored her 50th goal for the club which was enough to secure victory.
The sky blue side of Manchester was left smiling on Sunday too as they overcame Leicester City in a game that saw Kerolin nab her first goal for City. But the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw who returned to the side and the scoresheet after suffering horrific racial abuse following the game against Arsenal last week. The Jamaican sensation took the armband after coming off the bench and scored a brilliant header to take the match out of the Fox’s reach as proceedings finished 3-1.
Palace and Sunderland secure historic wins
Sunderland reached the quarter finals for the first time since dropping out of the WSL in the 2017-2018 season while Crystal Palace reached the last eight for the very first time. Both sides saw off Championship opposition with Sunderland downing Portsmouth 2-0 while Palace defeated Newcastle by the same score line. Sunderland’s goals came from Jenna Dear and Emily Scott while the game concluded as a contest after Scarlett Williams was sent off for the home side for a second bookable offence and the Black Cats saw out the contest for victory.
Back in London the Eagles soared to a two goal victory, even if the margin of victory flattered the visitors. Crystal Palace missed a plethora of opportunities before finding their shooting boots in the second half. Even so, victory will still provide a much needed confidence boost as they chase survival in the top flight. The match featured the much anticipated return of last season’s WSL Championship top scorer Elise Hughes who came off the bench after she picked up an ACL injury late last season. The goals on the day came from Ashleigh Weerden and Abbie Larkin who booked Palace’s quarter final berth.
The Halfway Line player of the round: Angelina Nixon (Rugby Borough)
The 22 year old midfielder more than held her own against top flight opposition. Nixon almost scored one of the great FA Cup goals slaloming through on goal, dropping the shoulder to evade Liverpool’s WSL winning captain Gemma Bonner jinking past multiple defenders only to be halted by a wonderful save from Rachel Laws with the crowd on their feet.
Borough’s number 7 was a constant threat to the top flight side, relentlessly pressuring her opposition, and always a willing runner. After everything the club has gone through since Coventry United’s financial problems, this encounter was everything the FA Cup should be about.
The lowest ranked side in the competition before this weekend made the crowd of a thousand people who came to see them proud to don the orange and Nixon epitomised that enterprise.
All you need to know about the Quarter final draw
The draw for the FA Cup quarter finals takes place on Tuesday at 6:30pm GMT and can be streamed live on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup’s official YouTube channel.
Several London and Manchester/Merseyside derbies are possible in the draw on Tuesday with many eyes eagerly fixed on whether Chelsea will draw Manchester City. As the ties are due to take place on 8th/9th March such a draw would mean the two top sides would face each other five times in a row in all competitions. Crystal Palace will be keen to continue their historic run and the last remaining non WSL side Sunderland will watch on keenly to discover their next hurdle to attempt to overcome.
Ball Numbers
1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Sunderland
4 Manchester City
5 Crystal Palace
6 Aston Villa
7 Liverpool
8 Arsenal
