Oxford United Women lost 3-2 to Bristol Rovers Women at the MGroup Stadium on Sunday to bow out of this season's Adobe Women's FA Cup. Rovers took the lead midway through the first half but Phoebie Poole equalised for the U's on the stroke of half time. Poole put Oxford ahead shortly after the break, but two goals from former Oxford player Daisy Ackerman enabled Rovers to complete the giant-killing and go through to the fourth round for the first time in their history.
United started the stronger side and captain Beth Lumsden had a shot in the first minute, her volley arrowing just wide. United continued to press but it was the visitors with the first attempt, Meg Jarvis spotting Paris Sercombe off her line and trying to lob her from 25 yards, the effort swinging wide.
It was Jarvis who opened the scoring on the half hour with another attempt from long-range, this time her shot looping over the stranded Sercombe.
United had to work hard but they gradually took control of the game. Zoe Barratt fashioned a chance on the edge of the area but shot just wide and a few minutes later Zoe Creaney got her header on target but straight at Gas goalie George Hunt.
As the game approached half time, Hunt did well to get down to Poole's shot from 15 yards but she had no answer to Poole's equaliser as a clearance hit Barratt and fell nicely for the United striker to poke the ball home from close range.
The second half was just three minute in when Poole gave Oxford the lead. Lucy Trinder crossed deep from the right and Poole outjumped the defence to head home.
However, with Oxford dominating possession, it was the Pirates that struck next. In the 62nd minute, Ackerman crossed from the left touchline but the ball swung above Sercome, hit the bar and bounced back onto the prostrate United keeper and over the line.
Four minutes later and Rovers took the lead with an almost identical strike, although this one went in without the aid of the woodwork.
Oxford continued to dominate and for the last 20 minutes were camped in the Rovers half but could find no way through. Cecily Wellesley-Smith went close with a shot inside the penalty area and Poole had a shot straight at Hunt, but the Rovers defence dealt with everything and eventually the referee blew her whistle and it's Rovers that go through to meet Aston Villa at Villa Park in the next round.
UNITED: Sercombe, Wiseman, Creaney, Wellesley-Smith, Barratt, Poole, Gotch, Oliver, Burridge, Trinder (Jenkins 78), Budaieva (Richardson 62)