Abbot jumps to Charlton's defence

Marieanne Spacey leads the Arsenal charge

BBC Sport Online's Tony Leighton rounds up the action from the weekend's women's FA Cup ties.

Sunderland 1-3 Charlton Athletic

Holders Charlton Athletic began the defence of their Women's FA Cup crown with a 3-1 fourth round away win against Women's Premier League National Division rivals Sunderland.

On the day that the 10 National Division clubs enter the competition, Charlton - who won the Cup in their former guise as Croydon - wrapped up victory through Suzanne Abbot in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

Injuries to Sunderland goalkeeper Donna Harris and striker Jody Baxter had held up proceedings, both players having to be taken to hospital following prolonged on-field treatment.

The injuries capped a disappointing afternoon for the North Eastern side, who gifted Charlton the lead through a 24th minute own goal by midfielder Angela Willoughby.

Striker Emma Moore doubled the visitors' lead three minutes later, but 12 minutes into the second half substitute Emma Bell pulled a goal back.

Sunderland worked hard to force an equaliser, but their efforts proved fruitless when Abbott struck home the conclusive goal deep into injury time.

Charlton's main threat as they look to retain the trophy will probably come from current National Division leaders Arsenal and last season's beaten FA Cup finalists Doncaster Belles.

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Arsenal 5-3 Leeds United

England strikers Marieanne Spacey and Karen Walker were both on target twice as the Gunners and the Belles respectively stepped up their rival bids to emulate Charlton's 1999-2000 feat of a Premier League and FA Cup double.

Arsenal beat Northern Division promotion chasers Leeds United 5-3, the visitors giving a good account of themselves, though at one stage Arsenal led 5-1.

Ciara Grant, Jane Ludlow and Ellen Maggs added goals to Spacey's brace while Stacey Daniel, Lucy Ward and Siona Kelly scored for Leeds.

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Tranmere Rovers 2-3 Doncaster Belles

The Belles won 3-2 at Tranmere in a humdinger of a match which could have gone either way.

Walker gave Donny a two-goal interval lead, but then England winger Sue Smith scored twice in quick succession midway through the second period.

In a tense finale the game was won five minutes from time by Amanda Barr, who took advantage of a tragic defensive mix-up to slide the ball home.

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Millwall Lionesses 1-4 Everton

In the other game which pitted two National Division sides against each other, Everton were comfortable 4-1 winners at Millwall Lionesses.

A sixth-minute Kelly Shimmin penalty and Jody Handley's 24th minute header put the visitors well in control, but they handed Millwall a lifeline when Tina Mason put through her own net five minutes before the break. The Merseysiders were soon back on top, however, and second half goals by Rachel Unitt and Kelly McDougall eased them into the fifth round.

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Chelsea 5-3 Barry Town

The only surprise of the day came at Chelsea, where the Southern Division side beat National Division outfit Barry Town 5-3.

The result was more emphatic than the scoreline suggests, for Barry's last two goals did not arrive until stoppage time. The visitors cancelled out Claire O'Sullivan's first half own goal with a Trudy Williams strike six minutes after half-time, but then Chelsea hit them with four goals in 20 minutes.

England Under-18 star Fara Williams scored twice with Sarah Cox and Emma Wickham bagging the other Chelsea goals.

Trudy Williams completed her hat-trick in injury time, but it was cold comfort for the Welsh side.

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Derby County 0-8 Wolves

The scoring feat of the day belonged to Julie Guise, of Wolves - the midfielder went on as a second half substitute and scored four goals in an 8-0 trouncing of Derby County.

Katie Fellows and Katie Ward bagged a brace apiece as Northern Division side Wolves completed easily the most comprehensive victory in round four.

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Newport County 3-3 Chester le Street (Chester le Street win 4-2 in shoot-out)

With Southampton's match at Wimbledon postponed, the only other fourth round encounter saw Chester le Street collect an exciting penalty shoot-out victory at Southern Division side Newport County. The scores were level at 3-3 when extra time ended, but the Northern Combination team completed an upset by winning the shoot-out 4-2.

The only National Division side not involved on fourth round day was Liverpool, who were waiting for the third round tie between Coventry and Chester to be settled.

That game, along with four other round three ties, went ahead though three third round games sadly had to be called off due to pitch conditions.

Chester won 3-0 at Coventry to earn themselves a crack at Liverpool next week. Swindon won 2-1 at Stowmarket, while Berkhamsted won 2-0 at home to Reading and Birmingham beat Oldham Curzon by the same scoreline.

Mansfield beat Parkgate 3-2 on penalties after the scores were tied at 2-2.

Outstanding fourth round tie

Wimbledon v Southampton Saints

Outstanding third round ties

Barking v Barnet (winners away to Blackpool Wren Rovers); Walsall v Manchester City (winners away to Fulham); West Ham United v Wembley Mill Hill (winners at home to Ilkeston Town).

Third round winners to play fourth round ties on 14 January