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FA Women's Cup Final sponsored by e.on A brave Leeds United Ladies team were comprehensively beaten 4-1 yesterday by the all-conquering Arsenal Ladies team in front of a record crowd of 24,582 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Bank Holiday Monday.
 A brave young Leeds United Ladies side had to settle for runners-up again as Arsenal won the FA Cup for the third year in a row in front of a record crowd of 24,582 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Bank Holiday Monday.
Leeds kept a clean sheet until the 54 minute, thanks to brilliant goalkeeping by the young England stopper, but three goals in six minutes did the damage. Leeds never gave up, birthday girl Jess Clarke scored in the 69th to give Leeds as glimmer of hope before Arsenal scored again in the closing stages.  The Yorkshire team were on the back foot from the start as the Arsenal’s defender Alex Scott missed a great chance in the opening exchanges. The Gunners right back had a shot cleared off the line from United’s Steph Houghton, after good work from Lianne Sanderson and England’s Kelly Smith.
It was then Smith who smashed in a shot straight at Carly Telford. You had a sense of it going to be one of those long afternoons for Leeds. Minutes later Sanderson’s deep cross could only be cleared to Scott who hit it first time from 20 yards ball bounced down off the crossbar onto the line, but fortunately for United the referee made the right decision to not award the goal and Leeds cleared. Minutes later Telford brilliantly tipped over a 20-yard dipping volley from Jayne Ludlow.If Leeds were to win this final then Telford would have to keep playing at this form Despite Arsenal’s obvious quality in attacking, Leeds were gritty in the tackle and determined to give everything. They threw bodies in the line of shots and headers and tried to get tight to play makers Kelly Smith , Rachel Yankey and Sanderson. Unfortunately that was quite a task for United to complete. Arsenals aren’t European Champions for nothing. England captain Faye White missed a glorious chance and headed over, Smith and Sanderson created chances for each other, but United soaked all the pressure up. It was Leeds's astute defending and brilliant goalkeeping that kept the score line at 0-0. A Leeds attack saw Leeds actually put the ball in the net. A ball forward from Sophie Walton fell to striker Amanda Barr who produced a sublime finish. She lifted the ball over the on rushing goalkeeper Emma Byrne and into the net. Barr threw her hands in the air to celebrate. Her celebrations were short lived as she looked across and saw the linesmen’s flag raised. It was a tough call. Leeds had a corner on the stroke of half time, Sue Smith’s inswininging corner caused Byrne to flap at it and Leeds nearly took advantage but Arsenal scrambled around the post for a second corner, this time cleared from Faye White. The half time whistle blew and Leeds had survived. Manager Rick Passmoor knew his Leeds team were lucky to go in 0-0 but was it going to be Leeds day? Nine minutes into the second half and the champions had taken the lead. Leeds full back Steph Houghton allowed Rachel Yankey to run and cut inside and her pass found Kelly Smith who expertly poked home the finish past Telford. A tiring United’s head dropped minutes later when Arsenal got their second. Sanderson’s lofted free kick was flicked in through the legs of Telford by the unmarked Jayne Ludlow. Sixty seconds later Arsenal grabbed their third. Sanderson grabbed her 51st goal of the season. Sanderson got the luck, which she diserved after a tireless display in the first half. Her 20-yard effort nicked a deflection which wrong-footed Telford and the game was effectively over. All of Leeds hard work in the first half was being undone in a crazy six-minute period. Telford should feel aggreviaved after such a superb display. She showed the crowd and TV audience that women’s goalkeepers can be great players and not the butt of all jokes. The game wasn’t quite over just yet though. The Yorkshire outfit were determined to grab a goal and try and get back in the game. Two years ago Leeds were thrashing 5-0 in the FA Cup final at Millwall’s New Den. This time they showed determination, guts and energy to try and make things happen. They drew inspiration from large section of Leeds fans sat in the Trent End. A long ball forward brought England International Sue Smith onto the ball. She ran with the ball, jinking with arrogance and with a drop of the shoulder to deceive White. She stopped - looked up and planted an audacious chip over the goalkeeper. The ball struck the angle of bar and post. The crowd groaned. But not for long as Leeds followed up the re-bound. Jess Clarke headed powerfully to get Leeds back in the game. Leeds deserved their goal (especially considering a few borderline offsides and penalty decisions). The Gunners pushed on again having a header cleared off the line. They brought on a triple substitution to liven the troops. Alex Scott missed another glorious chance – blazing over from 15 yards after some excellent play by Kelly Smith. Leeds were denied their second penalty of the day. Captain Jessica Wright’s volley struck a hand but the referee Ihringova waived away the appeals. Arsenal’s win and the league and cup double was wrapped up with seven minutes remaining. Substitute Julie Fleeting created space and shot from outside the box only to see it hit the bottom of the post. Fortunately for the London team it fell to Kelly Smith. The England International doesn’t miss many opportunities and she certainly doesn’t miss them from four yards. Leeds certainly weren’t embarrassed like they were two years ago. Considering Arsenal are supported and assisted by their male counterparts then the Yorkshire did well to compete with the Champions. Leeds have had a great season, they have one if not the youngest squads in the league yesterday saw 8 of the starting eleven 20 years old or younger The future looks bright for Leeds – by reaching the FA Cup Final and finishing third in the league – it is their best season since starting in 1989.
Manager Rick Passmoor commented after the game: “The best team won on the day, but just look how young our team are, we had sixteen, seventeen and eighteen year old out there. Losing is awful and I don’t want my team ever to like losing but they will have learned another lesson from today and gained more experience which will stand them in good stead for the future. "We will improve all the time with such a young squad, sometimes they show their inexperience but they never gave up today and I am proud of them. Carly was outstanding today and deserved her Player of the Game award; she kept us in it in the first half with her display. It proved again waht we all know - we have a real talent in Carly. "We still have three league games to play and have already been assured of third place in the league which is an achievement in itself. We just need to finish the season on a high and ensure we get as many points as possible and then look to next season.” Arsenal: Byrne, Scott, White, Asante, Phillip, Ludlow, Grant (Tracey 74), Carney, Smith, Yankey (Davison 74), Sanderson (Fleeting 74). Subs Not Used: Spencer, Flaherty.
Goals: Smith 54, Ludlow 59, Sanderson 60, Smith 83. Leeds: Telford, Houghton, Bradley, Wright (Bonner 86), Culvin (Thackray 80), Walton, Moore (Sutcliffe 60), Holtham, Clarke, Barr, Smith. Subs Not Used: Higgins, Hutton.
Booked: Culvin.
Goals: Clarke 69. Match report by Ralph Shepherd |
