By Middlesbrough FC

Boro Women's FA Cup campaign got off to a winning start with victory in Lancashire.

Two first half goals proved enough to secure progress in the competition.

Michael Mulhern made just one change to the side that was held to a goalless draw against Chorley, with Laura Wareham coming in for Ruby Cook in goal and taking the captain's armband.

The home side got off to a quick start as they looked to cause a cup upset with a long range effort, but it didn't trouble Wareham. 

From the resulting goal kick, Boro almost drew first blood through Armani Maxwell, who squirmed her way through the Darwen back line and fired a shot off the post from a narrow angle. 

Mulhern's side began to impose themselves on Darwen, bossing possesion and creating a chance for Leanna Giles. But she shot over the bar after Abby Towers played her through. 

Maxwell once again made her way into a good area and was found by Ellen Turnbull, who was looking lively on the wing, but she couldn't add the finishing touch to Turnbull's cross. 

In an attempt to sway the emphasis of the game Darwen began to press high to force Boro into mistakes, but Boro's backline were solid and played through the press calmly. 

Sharna Wilkinson opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, with a sublime effort from a free-kick, arrowing the ball into the top right corner from 30 yards out. A great way to open her Boro account.

Darwen hadn't seen any action in the Boro box all half, but when they did find themselves with a chance Wareham was quick to react and put herself among a group of flailing legs to gather a loose ball from a cross. 

Boro went in search of a second goal, and their efforts paid off as just before half-time Ellen Packham cannoned into the top corner from close range to double the scoring. 

A third almost came straight away in the second-half as Maxwell shot after getting on the end of a Darwen clearance. The ball was deflected onto the post before being swept up by the 'keeper on the goal line.

In comparison to the first-half, the second was much quieter but Boro did have opportunities to make it three. Turnbull almost got herself on the scoresheet but her ranged effort whipped inches wide of the goal.

Packham came close to doubling her tally for the afternoon as she leapt to get on the end of a Robson cross, but her header was wide of the mark. 

With 15 minutes to go, two Boro players made their return from injury off the bench, as Sarah Burn and Grace Boyes came on for Maxwell and Robson.

As full-time closed in Darwen began to look for a way back into the game after long spells of Boro dominance, and with 10 minutes to go they got one back with a good finish beating Wareham down to her left.

With a minute to go, Darwen's number eight was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Millie Bell, and with a player advantage Boro made no mistake in seeing the game out and progressing through to the next round of the FA Cup.

Middlesbrough: Wareham (C), Skelton, Packham, Towers, Turnbull, Mett (Dale 85'), Maxwell (Boyes 73'), Robson (Burn 73'), Giles, Wilkinson, Bell

Unused subs: Cook, Ward, Foster, Myers,

Darwen: Hill, Parkinson, Johnson,  Duckworth, Smith, Flynn, Goodwin, Ratcliffe, McKenna, Greenalgh, Brown

Subs: Jordan, Newton, McCormack, McPherson, Thomas