Emily Allen’s spectacular goal of the season contender added to earlier strikes from Carly Johns and Daisy McLachlan as Oxford United Women beat Billericay Town 3-1 at Court Place Farm to go through in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup today.
Both sides started the contest brightly, with United sending a series of low crosses into the box from Allen and McLachlan although Billericay’s top goalscorer Therese Addison latched onto a long ball over the top on 13 minutes in the visitors’ best chance of the first half but was unable to beat keeper Rose Kite who blocked the chance from the edge of the box.
Liam Gilbert’s side made full use of John’s trickery and on 23 minutes the young United forward opened the scoring with a fantastic strike into the top left corner following a clever run much to the delight of the many Oxford fans watching the game’s live stream
United continued to dominate with captain Lauren Haynes delivering a series of set pieces and Brown’s saved header going close from a corner on 26 minutes.
United doubled their lead on 56 minutes through McLachlan when Haynes’ corner was met by the powerful header of Sims, resulting in a goal-mouth scramble from which McLachlan stabbed home from close range.
Billericay got a goal back on 77 minutes after Morton spotted Kite straying away from the goal line and looped a shot into the back of the net.
Nevertheless, United struck back five minutes from full-time through a goal of the season contender from Allen. The U’s’ exciting winger received the ball just past the halfway line and on the half-volley struck a thunderous effort past the clutches of Mullett in goal.
United will now face Women’s Championship outfit Charlton Athletic in the next round with the game due to be played next Sunday.
United
Kite, Hayes, Sims, Beaver, Mackenzie, Haynes (Baker 90’), Hines, Brown (Stevens 67’), Allen (Wallace 90’), Johns (Williams 80’), McLachlan (Jeal 87’)
Unused subs: French, Bent, Ashley, Habermehl
Report by Jacob Gill, pictures Darrell Fisher