Women's football: Aston Villa exit FA Cup despite Ellie Roebuck heroics
A gutsy performance from goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck was not enough to stop Villa from exiting the FA Cup to Arsenal.
The former England international played on despite taking a boot to the face from Gunners forward Stina Blackstenius which left her with a bruised eye.
But despite making a series of impressive saves, Roebuck could not prevent the home side pulling away to victory in Sunday’s fourth round tie.
Goals from Blackstenius and Kim Little condemned Villa to defeat at Boreham Wood’s Mangata Developments Stadium.
Natalia Arroyo’s team will now turn their attention back to the WSL and next Sunday’s visit of Manchester United.
Blues are through to the fifth round after a thumping 6-2 win at Hull City.
The six different scorers included three debutants with Lotta Lindstrom, Shanade Hopcroft and Asato Miyagawa all on their mark in their first outing for the club.
Chelsea Cornet got Blues off to the perfect start when she opened the scoring inside the first minute, before Lily Crosthwaite doubled the lead just past the half-hour mark.
Finland international Lindstrom then made it three with Veatriki Sarri firing in the fourth before half-time.
Hopcroft and Miyagawa were both on target in the second half, as goals from Ellie Tanser and Sophie Haywood provided at least a little cheer for the home side.
Wolves are through to the semi-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup after thrashing Birmingham PGA 8-0.
Amber Hughes, Charlotte Greengrass and Jade Cross all found the net twice, while Chloe Williams and Racheal Quigley were also on the mark at Wast Hills as Wolves cruised through.
Stourbridge are out of the Birmingham County Cup after a 10-1 defeat at home to Rugby Borough.
Isabella Martin was on the mark for the home side but the visitors simply proved much too strong.
Kidderminster Harriers remain in trouble in Midlands Division One South of the National League following a 3-1 home defeat to Sutton Coldfield Town.
Beth Grady fired home to cancel out Eva Cassidy’s early opener for the visitors but Harriers were unable to build on the momentum and slipped to defeat, as Chloe Dann and Cassidy again were on the mark in the second half.
Boss Dan Ludlow praised the maturity of his Lye Town team after they fought back to beat Alvechurch and maintain the pressure on West Midlands Premier Division leaders Redditch.
Sian Johnson and Chloe Handy both scored in the final 20 minutes to earn a 2-1 win which kept Lye within a point of the leaders.
In Division One North, leaders Walsall drew 0-0 at Chasetown but remain top after Lichfield City, their closest challengers, were beaten 2-1 at Newcastle Town.
