The FA Women's Cup Sponsored by E.ON Semi-FinalEverton 0 Leeds United Ladies 0Leeds United won 5-4 on penalties
3pm, Sunday 16 March 2008
Haig Avenue, Southport FC
Leeds United Ladies beat Everton 5-4 on penalties to seal their place in The FA Women's Cup Final, their third final in three years, after a goalless 120 minutes.
 It was fitting for Leeds to get through to the final, as they have draw every round away against fellow National Premier league opposition and had their preparation disrupted with six players away on International duty last week, the four Under 19s only getting back on Saturday evening.
For Everton's and England's Fara Williams it was a day she wanted to forget, as her penalty miss in the fourth minute, and another miss in the shoot-out proved decisive. For Leeds, they follow their appearance last season in The FA Women's Premier League Final, and The FA Women's Cup Final the year before. It looked like Everton would race into the lead after Jody Handley was felled in the box by Leeds left back Alex Culvin, but Fara Williams scuffed her penalty and Carly Telford in the Leeds goal scrambled across to save.
The first 45 minutes saw plenty of crunching challenges in the middle of the park but limited goal action.
Leeds' best chance fell to youngster Olivia Thackray after ten minutes but she blazed over from Steph Houghton's cut back, whilst Natasha Dowie narrowly hooked a shot wide five minutes before half time. Leeds made two changes just after the break bringing on Katie Holtham and Mel Sutcliffe for Jade Moore & Alex Culvin. Everton then introduced Toni Duggan and Jo Potter into the fray in the second half, and the latter almost put The Toffees in front with four minutes remaining.
Natasha Dowie's diagonal pass was stepped over by Fara Williams but Potter's shot was blocked by Telford, Jess Wright clearing off the line.
Dowie then had a shot well saved by Telford two minutes later and then Telford again pushed away a Potter free-kick at full stretch on 89 minutes.
In the first period of extra time, Danielle Hill in the Everton goal made a fantastic one handed save from Katie Holtham's fierce rising shot, to keep the scores level as the spectre of penalties loomed.
Everton then came back again, and on 111minutes, Carly Telford magnificently tipped Jody Handley's low driven shot from 25 yards round the post.
This decisive game was to be decided by penalties Nicole Emmanuel, Sophie Walton, Katie Holtham & Amanda Barr all scored before Sue Smith stepped up to seal Leeds' second FA Women's Cup final appearance in three seasons, and remarkably, the Yorkshire side's third penalty shoot-out victory in the competition this season. Manager Rick Passmoor was delighted. "It is fantastic for the whole club, the girls thoroughly deserve to get through, they gave everything today. We took a good ten minutes to settle down, but once we did we played well, we battled in midfield and didn't give anything away at the back. Sophie and Jess were tremendous. "I said when I came to this club that I wanted us to compete for trophies and although it has taken time for the girls to gel, it is starting to pay off. We have some really talented players here, there is a lot more to come from them. Katie came on and gave me her best performance in a Leeds shirt. Sophie Walton, who was on crutches last Monday, was desperate to play so we gave her a fitness test just before the game, she came through and proved by her performance just how determined she was. Young Ollie Thackray did very well too; she hasn't started many games but when we needed her on Sunday, she didn't let anyone down and proved just what a big future she has with this club. She is also very versatile and can play in a number of positions. "Now we must start the hard work again. We don't want to be in that final just to make up the numbers. We have played Arsenal in our two previous finals and got closer each time, so lets make it third time lucky. All the players now are fighting for a place in the starting eleven." Chairperson Melanie Vauvelle-Don added "I am absolutely thrilled for everyone, I had a good feeling about today and had every confidence in the players and management. It is wonderful for the club it be in another cup final and the FA Cup Final is the one everyone wants to be in. I hope we can now get plenty of vocal support along to Nottingham and give the girls a lift on the day."
Teams
Everton: Danielle Hill, Becky Easton, Rachel Unitt, Fara Williams, Emily Westwood, Lindsay Johnson, Jody Handley (c), Jill Scott (Jo Potter, 75mins), Natasha Dowie, Amy Kane, Michelle Evans (Toni Duggan, 71mins)
Subs Not Used: Leanne Duffy, Michelle Hinnigan, Karen Boyle
Leeds United: Carly Telford, Nicole Emmanuel, Sophie Bradley, Jess Wright (c), Alex Culvin (Mel Sutcliffe, 49mins), Jade Moore (Katie Holtham, 49mins), Sophiie Walton, Steph Houghton, Olivia Thackray, Sue Smith, Amanda Barr
Subs Not Used: Georgie Adams, Gemma Bonner, Jess Clarke, |
