By Tony Leighton

Blackburn striker Katie Anderton hit her 13th goal of the season to clinch a 2-1 Women's Premier League Cup win for Blackburn against Bristol Academy.

Helen Lander bagged a brace as Watford beat Doncaster Belles 3-2 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Northern Division club Sunderland's Sarah McCrea hit a hat-trick as the Black Cats beat Preston 4-3.

Sunderland are so far the only team from below the top flight to reach the last eight.

But Southern Division outfit Colchester United gave Liverpool a scare, taking the Reds to extra-time where Gill Hart scored in the 118th minute to give the visitors a 3-2 victory.

Arsenal and Everton, both currently in European action, had their ties - against Southern Division sides Newquay and West Ham respectively - postponed until next Sunday.

Women's Premier League Cup

Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Bristol Academy

Bristol had beaten Blackburn away from home in the League but found themselves chasing this Cup tie after Linda Shepherd had given Rovers a 26th-minute lead.

Anderton doubled the advantage 21 minutes into the second half, and a Nicki Watts goal seven minutes from time proved no more than consolation for the visitors.

Birmingham City 3-0 Portsmouth

Michelle Archer put Birmingham in front three minutes before the end of a well-contested first half.

Blues took control after the break, however, and goals from Laura Bassett and Bonnie Horwood saw them run out comfortable winners.

Chelsea 5-1 Lincoln City

Ellen White and Claire Rafferty gave Chelsea an early boost with a goal apiece in the opening 12 minutes.

On the half-hour Jodie Snelson reduced the arrears for the promotion chasing Northern Division outfit.

But White hit her second goal five minutes before the break, then second-half strikes by Katie Owen and Eni Aluko swept Chelsea into the last eight.

Colchester United 2-3 Liverpool (a.e.t.)

Helen Bass shot the U's into a 32nd-minute lead, but second-half goals by Jade Thomas and Chantelle Parry goals then seemed to have put the Reds on the road to victory.

They were forced into extra-time, however, when Toni Smith equalised in the last minute of normal time.

Both sides went for a winner as a penalty shoot-out loomed, but that particular drama was avoided when Hart pounced two minutes from the end of the extra period.

Preston North End 3-4 Sunderland

Preston twice led then came back from 3-2 down, only to lose out to a late winner by hat-trick heroine Sarah Danby.

It was Danby who equalised McCrea's early Preston goal, then Jess Clarke cancelled out the home side's second goal by Fiona Dransfield.

Danby put the visitors in front for the first time just after the hour, but McCrea quickly brought Preston back level.

A closely fought game appeared to be heading for extra-time, but Danby completed her hat-trick to clinch victory eight minutes before the final whistle.

Watford 3-2 Doncaster Rovers Belles

Doncaster captain Vicky Exley started and ended the scoring, but it was to no avail as the Belles slumped out of the Cup.