Wallsend Women 4–3 Darlington Women
Wallsend Women secured their place in the next round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup following a thrilling 4–3 victory over a resilient Darlington side.
With strong winds affecting the early stages, neither team was able to take control as the game developed into a physical battle. Wallsend soon settled, began to dominate possession and created several opportunities.
Rosie Campbell came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when she stabbed the ball goal wards following a scramble inside the penalty area. Her effort was cleared off the line, although Wallsend were adamant the ball had crossed. Campbell threatened again shortly afterwards, arriving late into the box and forcing the goalkeeper to tip her effort onto the crossbar.
Wallsend continued to apply pressure, with Maisie Christer-Burton winning the ball high up the pitch before finding Louise Griffiths, but the Darlington goalkeeper raced from her line to deny her.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 29th minute. A wide free-kick was headed clear but fell to Freya Heatley, who calmly slid the ball through to Lissy Donnison. The right-back curved her run into the left side of the penalty area before confidently finishing beneath the goalkeeper with her weaker foot.
Wallsend doubled their advantage in the 38th minute. Griffiths timed her run in behind perfectly, carried the ball towards goal and turned away from the recovering defender before finding Christer-Burton. The forward took one touch around her marker and calmly found the bottom corner.
Darlington responded quickly after the break, scoring just three minutes into the second half with a long-range effort that sailed over the goalkeeper. Having been in control, Wallsend were suddenly under pressure, and the visitors struck in similar fashion in the 51st minute to bring the game level at 2–2.
Wallsend regained their composure and restored their lead with an excellent move in the 67th minute. The attack began with Heatley at the back before some outstanding combination play between Mara Todoran and substitute Katelin Heslop sent Heslop through one-on-one. The goalkeeper produced two saves, but Campbell did what she does best, arriving late inside the box to bury the rebound.
Just one minute later, Wallsend doubled their advantage. Donnison’s deep cross wrong-footed the goalkeeper, who jumped but failed to collect the ball. Danielle Broadhurst was there to make sure it crossed the line, giving Wallsend a 4–2 lead after two goals in as many minutes.
Wallsend then looked to control possession and see out the victory, but Darlington ensured a tense finish. A corner forced a superb save from Izzy Dixon, only for the visiting forward to convert the rebound in the 87th minute.
Wallsend successfully navigated four minutes of added time before the final whistle confirmed a hard-fought 4–3 victory and their place in the Third Round Qualifying.
They will now welcome Wigan Athletic Women to Kirkley Park in the next round.