CHESTER City Ladies reserves reached the semi-finals of the Manchester and Cheshire Challenge Cup with a 3-1 home win over Stockport HNR.

Chester had much of the opening possession, but with virtually with their first attack of the game in the 19th minute, Stockport opened the scoring.

A corner swung in from the Chester right wasn't cleared properly and, following a scrappy piece of play inside the penalty area, the ball was stabbed home.

Chester continued to press the visitors and in the 38th minute they were back on terms. Right-back Amy Neil played a crisp ball forward into the stride of the industrious Katie Wilson who, after cutting inside, crossed low for the on-rushing Kelly Johnson to strike the ball home.

Within the first minute of the restart, Chester had their noses in front. Katie Wilson crossed high and deep into the Stockport goal area and when the Stockport keeper was unable to gather the looping ball Kelly Johnson was on hand again to stab the ball into the empty net for her second.

On 70 minutes, manager Wayne Gresty was forced into the first of two changes when AnnMarie Jones was replaced by Sharon Dowd after taking a knock on her ankle.

A similar incident led to Melissa Anderson also being withdrawn with an ankle injury in the 75th minute to be replaced by Becky Ashford.

In the 86th minute, Dowd claimed her reward for her patience sitting on the subs bench when she drove the ball home from a corner

Chester will meet Manchester-based Fletcher-moss in the semi-finals.

The first team lost 4-0 to Tranmere Rovers in a friendly match.

On Sunday the reserves have no fixture, while the firsts travel to Newsham to continue their fight against relegation.