Manchester City are into the quarter-finals of this season’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup after defeating West Ham United 5-1 at The Academy Stadium this afternoon.
Ellen White, Janine Beckie. Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis and Lauren Hemp got the goals for Gareth Taylor’s side as their bid to win a third consecutive Vitality Women’s FA Cup rolled on.
West Ham United started the match brightly and they were unlucky not to be ahead after just five minutes when a combination of defender and goalkeeper denied Maz Pacheco who had two shots in quick succession.
A goal was soon to arrive and it came at the other end of the pitch. Caroline Weir looped a ball into the box and White steered it home into the bottom corner.
Having conceded after just a quarter of an hour, you would be forgiven for fearing the worst for the visitors but they struck back immediately when Anouk Denton headed in from a Hawa Cissoko cross.
City regained the lead six minutes before the break when Hemp crossed low across the box and while White couldn’t connect, Beckie was on-hand to sweep the ball home.
The hosts twice went close to doubling their advantage before the half-time whistle but White flicked over before Beckie saw a shot blocked.
Visiting keeper Mackenzie Arnold denied Hemp early in the second half before West Ham United came on strong with Denton firing wide before substitute Leanne Kiernan looped a shot against the bar. Gilly Flaherty then forced a good save from home keeper Karima Taieb before The Hammers again threatened from the scramble which followed.
In the end, City’s class shone through as they netted three late goals. First Lavelle slotted the ball home after racing clear before fellow substitute Mewis forced a save out of Arnold. Mewis would get her goal when she thumped the ball into the net in the second minute of stoppage time before Hemp rounded off a 5-1 victory with a powerful effort which nestled in the top corner a minute later.
City will now await news of their opponents in the competition’s quarter-finals.
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