The Adobe Women’s FA Cup continues this weekend with the fifth round proper.
Here are five stories unfolding across the ties to keep an eye out for.
Making history
Chatham Town are the lowest ranked team still standing in this season’s competition as the Kent club reached the fifth round proper for the first time in their history, seeing off York City last time out to set up a clash with Birmingham City.
But Chats boss Keith Boanas is no stranger to this competition, even if the club are experiencing a first this weekend. Boanas won the Women’s FA Cup with Charlton Athletic back in 2005, reaching the final on a further three occasions. And the 66 year old proclaimed Chatham’s run feels ‘as good as it did’ when he won the competition 20 years ago.
Women's FA Cup legend 🏆@ChathamTownWFC boss Keith Boanas has helped seal his side's spot in the #AdobeWomensFACup fifth round and knows exactly what it takes to reach the final, having guided Charlton Athletic to the trophy in 2005 🤯 pic.twitter.com/EJNWUDSKde
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) January 25, 2026
A team in form
Speaking of Charlton, the Addicks come into their fifth round tie away to Oxford United in a rich vein of form. The Londoners are now 27 games unbeaten on the back of a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town in the league earlier in the week.
The WSL 2 side are vying for promotion alongside their cup run, sitting pretty at the top of the table, nine points clear of second-place Birmingham, but can they set their sights on another title to make this a truly unforgettable season?
Affinity with the FA Cup
Another team who boast an impressive record are Chelsea, the reigning champions and six-time FA Cup winners. Sonia Bompastor’s side welcome league rivals Manchester United to Kingsmeadow in a televised clash on Sunday afternoon.
This weekend’s clash sees a replay of the 2024-25 showpiece which the Blues won 3-0 under the arch at Wembley to lift the trophy but as it happens, Manchester United are the only team to have beaten Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup since the 2020-21 season, with Chelsea having won 24 of their last 25 matches in this competition.
An almost flawless record 💫
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) February 17, 2026
Only @ManUtdWomen have beaten @ChelseaFCW in the #AdobeWomensFACup since the 2020-21 season 😮 pic.twitter.com/HupIc7vhPo
Shining starlet
One to watch from that particular match-up between Chelsea and Manchester United is Reds academy graduate Layla Drury. The forward became the club’s youngest-ever player – a record previously held by Lauren James – at 16 years and 220 days old in a 5-0 fourth round victory over Burnley.
Not just that, she also found the back of the net to contribute to the result, becoming the youngster scorer in Manchester United women’s history.
Local rivals
There is a Merseyside derby coming up this weekend as Liverpool entertain Everton in the fifth round, marking a first meeting between the two teams since the opening day of the WSL season when Everton ran out 4-1 winners at Anfield.
The last five games in all competitions ✅
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) January 22, 2026
A Merseyside derby treat set up in the #AdobeWomensFACup fifth round 🤝 pic.twitter.com/qHMHp5SM6b
The Toffees have won three of their last five encounters with the Reds, also having the edge in the league rankings but anything can happen in the FA Cup.
