NEWBURY ladies advanced in the Southern Region League Cup with a pulsating 3-2 victory at Wokingham & Emmbrook in the preliminary round on Sunday.

The visitors started brightly and took a deserved lead in the 17th minute when Amy McNab flicked on her header to send Ellie Reed racing clear of the home defence, and she beat the advancing goalkeeper to the ball before playing a delicate first time lob into the roof of the empty net.

However, Wokingham equalised just five minutes later, Newbury keeper Nicole Beesley saving a 25-yard free-kick, only for the rebound to be slammed home from six yards out.

Newbury moved back in front shortly after, though, the wet conditions allowing a tame Reed shot to slip through the Emmbrook goalkeeper's hands and into the back of the net.

The away side could have further increased their lead before the break, only for a Caz Harkness effort to hit the post.

It was Wokingham who started the second half better, however, and they drew level with a thunderbolt of a free-kick which Beesley had no chance of stopping.

Yet Newbury rallied, and should have gone back in front only for Harkness and McNab to spurn gilt-edged chances.

They did make the decisive breakthrough eventually, though, McNab playing a short pass into the feet of substitute and player-of-the-match Tracey Beales, who made no mistake with a precise finish to fire her side through.

Newbury will take on Oxford City in the first round proper of the competition on Sunday, October 28.

Newbury Development found the going tougher as they were beaten 3-0 at Kingsclere in Division Two South of the Thames Valley Counties League.

Saide Gulliver and Marie Prout were named as their joint best performers.

Barton Rovers Royals battled to a 2-0 victory against Westwood Wanderers.

There were few clear-cut chances in a scruffy first half played generally in midfield, but Royals improved markedly after the break.

Gemma Sims popped up to break the deadlock midway through the half, and Rovers could have seen off the game only for Leah North and Jade Deneka-Littleyboy to be denied.

However, Deneka-Littleboy's 90th-minute goal sealed the win on a day when Ellise Lowe was named player-of-the-match.