COVENTRY UNITED LADIES triumphed 4-2 in a six-goal thriller against West Bromwich Albion to reach the quarter-finals of the Women’s FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Alanah Mann, Natalie Johnson, Katie Wilkinson and Olivia Fergusson all struck to send the Red and Greens into the last eight despite Natalie Haigh’s late red card at Coles Lane.
And Coventry will learn their quarter-final opponents tomorrow (Tuesday, March 1) with the draw taking place live from 9.15am on BBC One’s Morning Live show.
In what was Jay Bradford’s 150th game in charge, the Red and Greens made a dream start against their National League Northern Premier Division opponents when Mann scored her first senior goal after just six minutes.
And the visitors were soon two-nil up on 23 minutes when Johnson curled a magnificent effort into the top left corner from the right-hand edge of the penalty area.
A scorcher of strike from Nat Johnson! 💥#WomensFACup @CovUnitedLFC pic.twitter.com/JbmJJ3SToV
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) February 27, 2022
However, West Brom halved the deficit on 31 minutes when Shannon Stamps slotted an effort past Lucy Thomas in the United goal.
And Coventry were quick to restore their two-goal lead when Wilkinson smashed an effort into the roof of the net in first-half injury-time after a corner was floated into her path.
Despite having the better of the second half, United found themselves in trouble on 75 minutes when Haigh was shown a red card after pulling back Mariam Mahmood in the box.
And Leigh Dugmore duly converted the resulting penalty on 77 minutes to set up a tense finish to the fifth-round tie.
However, Fergusson settled the tie on 87 minutes when she finished from a low cross at the back post to deservedly seal the Red and Greens place in the quarter-finals.
Manager Bradford said: “I’m proud, I’ve been here a long time and when you reach milestones it’s special, it was the perfect way to mark the day.
“The four goals that we scored were excellent, all four goals showed our class and quality, particularly the fourth goal which is what we needed to kill the game.
“The fourth goal really showed when we do bring a tempo and and an injection of pace or a bit of quality that’s what we can do to teams.
“I’m not bothered [who we draw in the next round], we’ll play anybody home or away.”
United are next in action away at Crystal Palace on Sunday, March 6 with kick-off at 2pm at Hayes Lane.
