Emily Scarr’s 118th-minute winner ensured Middlesbrough were not to be victims of an SSE Women’s FA Cup shock after a dramatic 4-3 extra-time third-round win over Liverpool Marshall Feds.
The midfielder battled for the ball to fire home the eventual winner after the sides had gone into extra-time locked at 3-3.
Sasha Rowe opened the scoring for the visitors while Laura Bartup made it 2-0 by 11 minutes, only for Bianca Owens to pull a goal back by the break.
Scarr’s first goal had the teams level, but it was only for a minute as Bartup secured her brace with just eight minutes remaining.
And it seemed the plucky Feds would hold on, only for Jessica Havelock to secure another added-time equaliser before the drama of extra-time and Scarr’s winner.
There was also success for Coventry United who came through extra-time and penalties to see off Crystal Palace. With the score at 1-1 and nothing separating the sides after 120 minutes, it went to spotkicks with Coventry prevailing 3-2.
The fourth round will see the FA WSL teams enter the competition, with Charlton in the hat with them after their own extra-time excitement against Ipswich Town.
The two had been locked at 2-2 by 90 minutes, with Cassie Craddock scoring a brace for Ipswich – a league lower down in the pyramid than their opposition.
But Charlton responded in the extra 30 minutes, with Kit Graham’s double alongside goals from Charlotte Lee, Sam Pittuck and Charlotte Gurr doing the damage across the match.
Cardiff were also given a scare against lower league Burnley, with Cori Williams’ 85th-minute strike finally allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief after their 3-2 victory.
There were no such worries for Keynsham however, overcoming league rivals Brislington 8-1, with Kerry Bartlett scoring four, while Blackburn eased to a 7-0 win which saw Natasha Flint notch four of her own against Portsmouth.
Meanwhile a Natasha Knapman double did the damage for Plymouth away at Fylde in their SSE Women’s FA Cup shock, as Argyle pulled it out of the bag in their 3-1 win over the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division opponents.
A late Kate McIntyre thunderbolt was enough for Lewes to beat Huddersfield to beat 2-1, the same scoreline by which Leicester beat Bradford and The New Saints overcame Newcastle United, while Chichester also beat Luton Town 2-0.
