It was looking unlikely when Penwortham Town raced into a two-goal lead after 13 minutes, however Sophie Coates’ brace drew Dale level before Davenport struck home to send them through.
Dale were hit with a sucker punch from the off, with Penwortham grabbing the lead as Robyn Wojnarowski broke clear and slotted well for the early breakthrough.
The response was promising from the side in pink, skipper Alicia Barnett sending Coates through who went for a lobbed finish which dropped just wide.
The forward was in the thick of it again, this time finding herself clean through on goal with the placed effort saved well by Bethany Kirby.
Eleanor Seals sent an effort wide before Penwortham grabbed a second against the run of play inside 15 minutes. A ball from the left was helped on by Wojnarowski and onto the unfortunate Phoebe Duckworth who turned it into her own goal.
Coates was linking up well with Gracie Smith, as the latter was sent through and similar to her forward partner, went for a slotted effort which forced Kirby into an excellent last-ditch save.
Having had to remain patient for a goal, Coates got on target just before the half-hour mark. A whipped in corner was helped towards goal by Jones, only to see it come off the crossbar and bounce on the goal-line. Fortunately, it fell nicely to Coates who smashed home to get one back.
Smith was another who looked destined to score as she raced one-on-one with the ‘keeper. A touch on it’s way through from the low effort allowed a retreating defender to get back and hook it off the line.
The number 11 was allowed space to receive from Coates and try and find the corner but could only send it wide in a busy first-half.
It was a lightning start to the second period as Holly Davenport was introduced and claimed an assist within five minutes, sending a free-kick into the middle which evaded all but Coates at the back-post to level the scores.
Barnett forced Kirby into a fine save as she hooked it on target but the goalkeeper got back and tipped it wide.
Both sides looked for the crucial fifth goal in the tie, with efforts at a premium in the second-half.
With four minutes remaining, Coates showed her pace to get a touch past the defender and break clear but the effort was saved down low to Kirby’s left.
Substitute Angela Egbon also had a clear chance to win it, played through by Coates but there was the shot-stopper again to deny Dale.
As the game looked destined to head to penalties, up stepped Davenport to stride clear, stay composed and slot home effortlessly for the match winner and a spot in the second qualifying round of the Women’s FA Cup.
Dale XI | Simpson (64′ Jackson), Seals, Duckworth, Jones (45′ Makin), Whyte (45′ Davenport), Barnett (c) (82′ Egbon), Moran, Coates, Mackie (71′ Taylor), Strudwick.
Unused subs | Keating.
Scorers | 27′ 50′ Coates, 90′ Davenport.
