Durham 2-2 Everton (AET) (Everton win 4-3 on penalties)
Everton Ladies stage memorable comeback to win 4-3 on penalties and put their name in the hat for tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round draw.
Everton Ladies are through to the fifth-round of the FA Cup after an emphatic penalty shoot-out win over Durham Women on Sunday afternoon.
After 45 minutes, it looked like it would be FA Cup heartbreak for the Blue girls after goals from Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki gave the host a 2-0 lead going into half-time.
But Andy Spence’s side emerged from the break and immediately got back into the game through captain Michelle Hinnigan before Simone Magill levelled the tie with 15 minutes remaining.
The Toffees could have even won it in normal time but with neither side able to find a winner after 120 minutes of football, it would be penalties that would ultimately decide what team would progress to the fifth-round.
After Claudia Walker, Kelly Jones, Vicky Jones and Magill all dispatched their penalties, it was down to Sarah Wilson to keep her side in the competition but the Durham captain sent her effort over the bar and sent the Blues through to the next round of the FA Cup.
Everton Ladies, who last won the FA Cup in 2010, began their fourth-round FA Cup tie looking comfortable in possession but it was in fact the hosts that created the first chance of the afternoon.
Toffees stopper Kirstie Levell had just seconds earlier palmed away a corner from under her crossbar and then she had to be alive to save a headed effort from Durham defender Sarah McFadden.
Moments later there was nothing she could do about the bullet header provided from Salicki but fortunately for Everton, K. Jones was on the line to clear the danger.
But it was a case of third time lucky for WSL2 side Durham when Hepple, following some good build up play from the hosts, fired a 20-yard strike past Levell to give her side the lead on 34 minutes.
Levell then denied Annabel Johnson just seconds after the opening goal, but it would get much worse for the Toffees on 43 minutes when Salicki, unmarked at the back post, headed into the top corner to give the Blue girls an uphill task going into the break.
Spence was then forced into a change during half-time with keeper Levell being forced off due to injury. With no substitute goalkeeper, Faye Bryson entered the fray, slotting in at right-back with Turner becoming a make-shift goalkeeper.
The Toffees needed a quick start to have any hope of turning this tie back into their favour, and they got just that five minutes into the second half when skipper Hinnigan poked an effort past Helen Alderson in the Durham goal.
The hosts were clearly shaken by the goal and the Blues took control of proceedings with Magill and Walker starting to cause problems within the Durham defensive line.
That pressure paid off and Spence’s side grabbed themselves a deserved equaliser when Magill headed home a Hinnigan corner to bring her side level.
Everton pushed for a late winner and on their second-half showing they probably deserved one – but Spence’s side would have to settle for extra-time.
Defender Georgia Brougham had the best chance to win it in extra-time when she was found in the box but the defender headed over the bar from just yards out.
And so the Blue girls’ FA Cup dream would ultimately lie in the hands of stand-in goalkeeper Turner.
Walker, Kelly Jones, Vicky Jones and Magill all scored from 12-yards which meant Durham captain Wilson had to score.
The defender sent her effort over Turner’s crossbar. Cue celebrations from the Everton players and staff – most notably racing to congratulate Dan ‘the cat’ Turner.
An emphatic comeback, a memorable victory - Spence and his players will now turn their attentions to tomorrow’s draw to see who they will face in the fifth round of the FA Cup.