Substitute Rachel Williams propelled Manchester United into the fifth round of the FA Women’s Cup after her hat-trick helped seal a 7-0 win over third-tier West Brom.
Melvine Mallard opened the scoring for the fourth-placed Women’s Super League in the 23rd minute at Leigh Sports Village, where it remained the only goal until the floodgates opened after the break.
Williams replaced Mallard just before the hour mark and then headed twice from Anna Sandberg’s cross in the 77th and 79th minutes.
England international Ella Toone returned to action for the first time since being sidelined with a calf injury in November and got her name on the scoresheet when United’s fourth strike hit the crossbar.
Celin Bizet added another in the 89th minute before Williams completed her hat-trick in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
But Bizet – who may have wanted credit for what could have been the final touch for United’s second goal of the game – wasn’t done either, netting a double in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
It was the only Women’s FA Cup game to take place after weather conditions forced a postponement in Durham travel to Brightonwhile five Sunday matches of the competition have also been cancelled.
