West Women reached the first-round proper of the Women’s FA Cup with a thrilling 6-3 win over MSB Woolton.
West made two changes from their 3-0 win over Altrincham as Chaneece Reeves replaced Emily Corasdale in midfield whilst Lauren O’Neill came back into the defence which saw Amy Friel reshuffled into the midfield.
West started the quicker of the two teams and almost lead after two minutes when Sophie Bracegirdle capitalised on a loose pass from the Woolton defence but saw her low shot deflected wide for a corner. The corner found Bracegirdle at the edge of the penalty area but the West winger fired her shot wide.
West continued to threaten as Elizabeth Livesey fired just wide of the post from the edge of the area on 12 minutes. The visitors came into the game and reminded West of their divisional superiority when a low cross from the right was turned wide at the near post following some excellent defending from Lyndsey Turner. Ellie Caddick was then called upon to make a brave block stopping a cross from West’s right hand side.
West pushed for the opening goal as Livesey went close again on 33 minutes firing just over the bar from 30 yards having spotted the Woolton goalkeeper off her line. Two minutes later West went close again as Shaun Edmondson drove into the box, evaded a sliding challenge, played in Chaneece Reeves before firing the return ball just wide of the target. Edmondson went close again as she fired a hard effort just wide of the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The deadlock was broken three minutes before the break as Reeves did superbly down the right to evade her marker, breaking into the penalty area before her cross to the far post found the head of the impressive Amy Friel and her effort looped inside the far post.
West doubled their lead before half time as Reeves saw a free kick tipped onto the crossbar from an excellent save however Edmondson reacted quickest and slotted home the rebound.
It took just four minutes of the second half to see West extend their lead further as Amy Friel turned provider as she burst down the left before pulling the ball inside allowing Edmondson to drill it into the bottom left hand corner. Woolton got them back into the game a minute later when a superb run down the left from Victoria Fraser saw her low cross turned in at the far post.
West looked to restore their lead as Reeves saw a low hard effort pushed away by the substitute goalkeeper on 55 minutes. A superb save from Claire Jefferson saw a long-range effort tipped onto the bar on the hour mark. However, Woolton were back in the game a minute later as the resulting corner was headed in on the line at the far post.
West restored their two-goal lead on 72 minutes as Reeves barged her way into the penalty area before stabbing the ball to Livesey who made no mistake converting from 12 yards out.
The fifth came eight minutes later as Livesey fired in from Bracegirdle’s first time pass after a terrific run from Edmondson.
It was six minutes later as Livesey’s cross from the right found substitute Jami Hodges at the far post as she tapped in from a yard out. Woolton added a consolation in stoppage time but it was West who advanced as deserved winners to the First-Round proper.
Team: 1. Jefferson, 10. Caddick, 3. J.Turner, 4. L.Turner, 7. O’Neill, 21. Kerr, 17. Edmondson, 15. Bracegirdle, 11. Friel, 8. Reeves, 6. Livesey
Subs: 2. Price, 5. Callaghan, 18. Hodges. Subs Not Used: 19. Carson-Parker, 9. McFadyen.
Goalscorers: Friel, Edmondson (2), Livesey (2), Hodges.
