City progressed to the first round of the Women’s FA Cup after staging a second-half comeback to beat Lichfield City 4-3 at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium.

The Imps created the first chance of the game after four minutes when Lucy Farrow set Toni McHamilton up but the striker’s shot was saved by the ‘keeper.

Faith Horner then came even closer for City but her header was cleared off the line by a covering defender.

After 29 minutes City would have the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Millie Quaintance cut inside her marker before being taken down in the box.

The referee pointed to the spot and McHamilton stepped up, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to put the Imps in front.

Their lead would not last long however as a back-pass from Quaintance was intercepted by Tilly Astell, with the striker clinically finishing past Poppy Irvine.

Lichfield completed the turnaround in the 33rd minute as Astell rose highest from a corner to head into the net.

It got worse for the Imps just after half-time as Astell found space on the edge of the box to complete her hat-trick.

Lee Mitchell’s side refused to give in however and they got back into the game when Farrow held the ball up superbly in the box.

The winger held off her marker before finding Katie Williams just outside the box, and the midfielder made it two in two games as she rifled a shot past the ‘keeper.

City were quickly level as just a minute later Leah Hardy ran through on goal and fired the ball high into the net.

A rollercoaster five minute period was rounded off in the 69th minute when McHamilton broke past the tiring Lichfield defence to complete the comeback. 

The Imps were well on top now and came close to stretching their lead, but Sinead Fletcher fired off target from inside the box.

Ella Thompson-Moulding had a header cleared off the line while Farrow struck wide in the dying embers of the game, but the one-goal margin was enough for City to progress.