Match reportHöbinger and Enderby strike late to send Liverpool into Women's FA Cup last eight

The Reds were made to toil for much of Sunday’s fifth-round contest at Nationwide Windows Arena, with chances at a huge premium.

Indeed, it needed something special to break through the hosts, with substitute Höbinger lashing in from more than 20 yards with six minutes left to play.

Enderby then added a second with a clinical stoppage-time finish to ensure Matt Beard’s team advanced to the last eight, for which the draw follows on Tuesday evening.

Aside from an early turnover in their own half that had to be recovered, Liverpool immediately took control of possession but found stubborn resistance from their opponents.

Real chances were almost non-existent and Rugby Borough turned the Reds around on multiple occasions with counter-attacks.

Beard’s side increased their threat shy of the half-hour mark, with a Taylor Hinds free-kick delivery into the area causing concern. Gemma Bonner was not able to make a clean connection, though, and a clearance clattered away off Zara Shaw.

The slickest move of the match then saw Sophie Roman Haug hit the post.

Julia Bartel’s forward pass to Fuka Nagano at the edge of the box was deftly flicked back by the Japan international and Roman Haug’s strike bounced off the outside of the right post.

The interval arrived with the score still goalless and Beard’s reaction was to deploy a quadruple substitution: Lucy Parry, Enderby, Höbinger and Leanne Kiernan took to the field when the sides reemerged.

Liverpool continued to pin Rugby Borough back in their own half for the most part but picking a way through their rearguard remained problematic.

Hinds thrashed a rising effort wide of the near post after a Höbinger dribble made ground, before the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the tie.

It was punctuated by an outstanding Angelina Nixon solo dribble, the No.7 weaving all the way to the Reds box and seeing a final prodded effort repelled by Rachael Laws. The loose ball was sent back at goal by Ebony Wiseman but blocked en route.

Home goalkeeper Nyla Peterkin made comfortable saves from Enderby and Roman Haug before Kiernan thumped a shot off the crossbar after a fine turn and tee-up by Bartel.

With extra-time looming ever more into view, Liverpool found a way. Patient passing outside the Rugby Borough box brought the ball to Höbinger and she unstoppably dispatched it inside the left post.

Seven minutes of added time presented a chance for a dramatic finale but the Reds put the tie to bed early into them, with Enderby guiding an assured first-time effort past Peterkin from Höbinger’s lofted pass.

Team

Liverpool: Laws, Daniels (Parry, 46), Bonner, Clark, Hinds, Bernabe (Enderby, 46), Nagano, Shaw (Höbinger, 46), Bartel, Roman H. (Evans, 89), Kapocs (Kiernan, 46).

Unused subs: Micah, Kirby, Kerr.

Goals: Höbinger (84), Enderby (90+2).

Next up

It’s back to Barclays Women’s Super League action for Liverpool next Sunday (February 16) as they travel to Manchester City.

Kick-off at Joie Stadium is 6.45pm GMT and supporters can book tickets for the game here.