Goals from Lucy Whipp and Gabby George saw Everton defeat WSL 1 side Bristol to seal a place in the last eight against Charlton Athletic.
The win keeps alive the hopes of a second FA Cup final in two years despite Bristol's Nikki Watts giving the away side the lead early in the second-half.
But the Toffees fought back - firstly through Whipp who bundled the ball in from point-blank range on 70 minutes to grab her first goal in Blue colours, before George got the all important decisive winner, 23 minutes into extra-time.
Everton's opponents were looking to respond after a 5-0 defeat in the Champions League against Frankfurt at the weekend.
Early on, Angharad James diverted a free-kick straight into the palms of Megan Walsh. The Blues shot stopper stepping up as number one this season in replace of the recently retired Rachel Brown-Finnis, to avert the only intent shown in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The first opening for the Blues came on 19 minutes courtesy of their opposition, with Bristol’s Frankie Fantom-Brown making a real mess of a cross to almost bundle into her own net, but fortune was on her side with the clearance whistling past the post.
Claudia Walker who made the move from Liverpool to Everton in pre-season proved to be a livewire alongside Lucy Whipp up top in the first-half. On one occasion, the forward took the ball on her chest before releasing a looping volley that flew well over the bar.
Bristol had the ball in the net just past the half hour mark, only for the linesman to flag for offside after Watts slotted the ball through the legs of Walsh and into the net.
Paige Williams’ effort from 25 yards was grasped by Mary Earps, whilst Vicky Jones stood her ground in reply to the tricks of Fantom-Brown down the left-hand side, but the Bristol full back did eventually get a shot away forcing a routine save from Walsh.
On the stroke of half-time the first real cut-throat opportunity emerged – Watts getting in-between the defensive trio of George, Lindsay Johnson, and Dan Turner to thunder Walsh’s right-hand post.
Four minutes into the second-half and Earps’ mis-judgement almost allowed Whipp a sight of goal. The Everton forward beating the number one to a loose ball but Earps recovered to turn her shot for a corner.
Hinnigan’s orders almost paid dividends with the captain demanding Ellie Stewart to get into the box for a free-kick deep-left. Stewart leapt higher than the rest to meet the cross only for it to narrow just over the bar.
But it was the away side just under the hour mark that took the lead. Sophie Ingle being brought down by Johnson inside the box, and despite the best efforts of Walsh’s right-hand that parried the ball on its way before the ball fired into the corner of the net.
In reply, K Jones went close to equalising almost instantly after. The full back popping up late into the box to fire a loose ball at goal. Earps was beaten but a foray of red shirts managed to steer the ball away from the goal-mouth.
Through sheer grit and determination, the equaliser came. K Jones’ effort from 25 yards looked promising but a Bristol body saw it turn away for a corner.
The resulting corner however was slammed home by Whipp who came on for Walker just a few minutes before to send the score at 1-1 with extra-time looking inevitable.
The troublesome Watts however had other ideas. Her shot from the edge of the box firing just over the crossbar - whilst from a corner, Mcatty’s header was pounced on well by Walsh who clutched the ball to stop the danger.
Late in the game and the Everton back-line was under attack - Watts again with her sheer pace getting in behind the Everton defence but another terrific save from Walsh kept the scoreline at 1-1.
Johnson’s header from a corner in the dying seconds of normal time could only flash past the goal, meaning a further half hour would have to be played.
By now, Watts was beginning to be sick of the sight of the hands of Walsh who denied her brilliantly again after the Bristol taliswoman weaved her way through the Everton defence before shooting from the edge of the box.
Jess King then sprayed the ball to Young who cracked a wild drive at goal that flew over Earps crossbar.
A long-range effort fromJones’ was wayward but Gabby George was first to react – turning, before striking an effort that saw Earpes spring into action with a well-timed save.
But George did get the winner with seven minutes remaining. A long ball over the top catching Bristol out and George seized on the opportunity to toe-poke the ball past the on-rushing Earps to tap the ball home.
Report by Joe Cooper.
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