London City Lionesses booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup with a commanding 4-0 win over Gwalia United at Hayes Lane. A clinical display from the hosts saw goals from Isobel Goodwin, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Shen Mengyu, and substitute Miljana Ivanovic ensure progression in a rain-soaked affair.
Dominant First Half from the Hosts
The opening exchanges were evenly matched, with Gwalia looking dangerous on the counterattack. Emily Poole’s interception and Ellie Sargent’s clever play almost unlocked the Lionesses’ defense early on, but Emily Orman – a Chelsea loanee – was alert to the danger.
However, the breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Isobel Goodwin met a superb corner delivery with a powerful header to give London City the lead. The home side doubled their advantage before halftime through a stunning strike from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, curling the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area in the 40th minute. London almost made it 3-0 on the stroke of halftime, but Jakobsson’s effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Gwalia Show Resilience but Struggle to Contain International Quality
The visitors came out fighting in the second half, pressing higher and creating a few chances. Gwalia’s resolve, however, was undone by a moment of brilliance from Shen Mengyu in the 78th minute. The midfielder struck a thunderous effort from 30 yards into the bottom right corner, effectively sealing the game. Gwalia goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan-Jones had earlier kept her side in the contest with a string of fine saves, but the third goal left the visitors with too much to do.
Ivanovic Caps Off a Strong Performance
London City’s victory was underlined in injury time when substitute Miljana Ivanovic scored a composed finish to make it 4-0, making the scoreline slightly undervalue Gwalia’s endeavours in the game. It was a tough end for Gwalia, who had shown moments of promise but ultimately were outclassed by their Championship opponents.
What’s Next?
The win sees London City Lionesses advance to the next round of the FA Cup, showcasing their quality and depth in front of a supportive home crowd. Gwalia United can take heart from their battling display, but the difference in class was evident as they exit the competition.
Final score: London City Lionesses 4, Gwalia United 0.
