Portsmouth secured safe passage into the third round of The SSE Women’s FA Cup after goals from Lucy Quinn and Sarah Kempson inspired a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.
Pompey, who reached the fourth round last year before losing to FA Women’s Super League 2 outfit Millwall Lionesses, took the lead in the 18th minute when Quinn hit a powerful free-kick.
The SSE Women's FA Cup
Second Round Proper
Sunday 10 January 2016
Click here for results
By Chris Bailey
The hosts continued to pressure and though Ini Umotong looked the most likely source of another goal, they took a 1-0 lead into half time.
But Portsmouth did not have to wait long for their second, as on 50 minutes Nadine Bazan finished a terrific run by setting up Kempson – and that proved enough to beat their FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division rivals.
In another all-FA WPL tie, Yasmine Swarbrick netted an 86th-minute winner as Preston North End clinched a 2-1 win at the expense of Derby County.
Alice Forshaw got FA WPL Northern Division leaders Preston off to the perfect start with ten minutes gone, driving her way into the box before smashing in a left-footed shot.
Jerdine Farrell and Swarbrick then went close to doubling the hosts’ lead before Derby got their equaliser.
It came in the 35th minute, with Melissa Johnson using her pace to ghost past the Preston defence before applying a smart finish.
And an end-to-end second half was settled when Swarbrick, thanks to fine work from Paige Forster, was left with a simple tap-in.
Elsewhere, Leicester City reached the third round for the first time in five years after battling back from a goal behind to beat Radcliffe Olympic 2-1.
Lauren Impey combined with Helen Busby for the latter to slot home in the 70th minute, and she went on to produce the winner with a stunning header ten minutes later.
FA WPL Southern leaders Brighton & Hove Albion saw seven players write their names on the scoresheet in the 7-0 win over Luton Town.
Jay Blackie, Sophie Perry, Kirsty Barton, Lisa Fulgence, Deanna Cooper, Hollie Olding and Charlotte Gurr all struck, meaning Brighton have now scored 23 goals in their last six games.
Nottingham Forest recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory against Morecambe, with Andi Bell opened the scoring with a first-half chip, which was followed up by Elizabeta Ejupi’s superb strike before Alana Copeland latched onto a corner to complete the job.
In Sunday’s other ties, Newcastle United overcame Mossley Hill 4-1, while there were 9-0 and 10-0 wins respectively for Charlton Athletic over Plymouth Argyle and Lewes over Fulham Foundation.
