The hosts punished three Worthing mistakes to lead 3-0 at half-time. Wycombe went ahead on 21 minutes, made it 2-0 after 32 minutes and got their third five minutes before the break.

Hannah Hewlett got a goal back with a shot from distance on the hour as Worthing dominated the second half but Wycombe held on to progress.

Lawrence said: “We were not at our best in the first half, with too many miss-placed passes and poor decision making in the final third but there’s no hiding from the fact that three goalkeeper errors were the reason we found ourselves down at half-time. I feel for Elinor (Adie), on another day she makes those saves.

“I set the players the challenge of winning the second half, and they did that. We actually dominated and could and should have scored more than the one goal but it just wasn’t our day.

“We’re obviously disappointed but it’s important that today’s result doesn’t de-rail our season. “I’m proud of the character and determination shown in the second half and the players need to carry that into the the next match.”

Goalscorer Hewlett believes Worthing will learn from the defeat and said: “I was pleased to get on the scoresheet but the goal was overshadowed by the loss.

“We all have to hold our hands up to a poor first half which left us too much to do in the second half but we have a great group here – we reflect and learn from today and continue to move forward together.”