Stoke City Women cruise to 4-0 FA Women’s Cup win at Northampton Town Women

Stoke City Women delivered a ruthless away performance to beat Northampton Town Women 4-0 in the FA Women’s Cup on Sunday, 25 October 2026. A brace from Amelia Shaw and further goals from Grace Mitchell and Katie Lowe gave Stoke a convincing victory at Fernie Fields, sending them into the next round with minimal fuss.

Stoke controlled the game from the early stages, pressing high and forcing Northampton into mistakes in their own half. The visitors’ movement in the final third was too sharp for the home defence, and once the opening goal arrived, the result rarely looked in doubt.

Match overview

Northampton tried to play out from the back, but Stoke’s aggressive front line made that difficult. The visitors won possession repeatedly in dangerous areas and created a steady stream of chances. Northampton’s goalkeeper made several saves to keep the score down, but Stoke’s clinical finishing and superior athleticism ensured the cup tie was settled well before full-time.

Key moments

• 12th minute: Stoke take the lead when Amelia Shaw finishes from close range after a turnover in midfield.
• 44th minute: Grace Mitchell doubles the advantage with a powerful strike from the edge of the area.
• 58th minute: Shaw grabs her second, finishing calmly after being played through one-on-one.
• 76th minute: Katie Lowe completes the scoring with a header from a corner.
• 84th minute: Northampton’s best chance of the night is denied by a fine save from the Stoke goalkeeper.

Tactical story

Stoke’s 4-3-3 formation allowed them to press Northampton’s back line while still keeping numbers in central areas. The midfield trio won the majority of second balls, and Stoke’s full-backs pushed high to create overloads on the wings. Northampton defended in a deep block for long spells but could not keep the ball well enough to relieve pressure, and their rare counter-attacks lacked the final pass.

Standout players

Shaw was the standout performer with two well-taken goals and constant movement that unsettled the Northampton defence. Mitchell controlled the midfield and capped her display with a fine goal, while Lowe’s set-piece threat added another dimension. Northampton’s goalkeeper deserved credit for several saves that prevented an even heavier defeat.

What the result means

Stoke City Women progress with a confident away win and a clean sheet, reinforcing their cup ambitions. Northampton Town Women will look to regroup quickly and focus on their league campaign after a difficult evening. The FA Women’s Cup result highlights the gap in quality on the night, but also Stoke’s ability to convert pressure into goals.