Brilliant Blues Beat Baggies In FA Cup

Everton progressed to the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup with an impressive 5-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion at Alexander Stadium on Thursday evening.

A dominant first 45 saw Yuka Momiki complete a brilliant brace, before a clinical opening 10 minutes of the second half saw Ornella Vignola, Toni Payne and Issy Hobson get on the scoresheet.

The result sees the travelling Toffees make the next round of the competition, with the draw taking place on Monday night at 7pm.

Head coach Brian Sorensen made five changes from the side that were narrowly defeated by WSL leaders Manchester City last time out.

Emily Ramsey was trusted in between the sticks, with a backline of Maz Pacheco, Martina Fernandez, Ruby Mace and Hobson in front of her. Rosa van Gool, Momiki and Aurora Galli formed the midfield – the Italian donning the armband after playing her first minutes since May against City on Sunday.

Vignola and Payne led the line – the latter repeating her goalscoring antics in the League Cup earlier in the season.

The Blues were forced in to an early change with only four minutes on the clock as Holmgaard was replaced by Clare Wheeler. The Dane went down after being pushed inside the Albion area, with no penalty given.

Momiki broke the deadlock five minutes later, though, the Toffees’ number 29 elegantly poking the ball past the outrushed Charlotte Clarke when faced one-on-one with the keeper.

Pacheco was the next to come close, the full-back’s cross looping over the head of Clarke and rebounding off the upright before rolling in to the bemused shot-stopper’s arms.

The front-foot play paid off as Momiki completed a brace on 33 minutes. The Japan-international received the ball on the turn and drove forward before unleashing a superb strike that nestled in to the top right corner.

Deep in to first half injury-time, it was almost three as Payne rounded the outrushing Clarke and set her sights from a tight angle. The forward's low effort whistled just wide of the post, though.

After heading in to the break ahead, Melissa Lawley replaced Galli for the second half.

A chaotic ten minutes ensued as the clinical Blues netted three times in the short period.

Five minutes in to the second half, Vignola placed a neat effort in to the roof of the net after picking up the ball inside the Albion area. Then two minutes later, Lawley had an instant impact to pick out Payne, who finished from point-blank range.

The ball was in the back of the net once more only three minutes later as lifelong Evertonian Hobson finished past Clarke before passionately celebrating with her teammates.

Everton return to Goodison Park up next, as Brighton travel to L4 on Friday 23 January (7pm GMT).

Tickets can be purchased here.