Everton Ladies beat Arsenal in Final
Everton Ladies have won the League Cup.
Amy Kane’s goal inside the opening 10 minutes sealed a magnificent victory over Arsenal, watched by a record crowd of 5008 at the Matchroom Stadium.
The Blues survived relentless pressure from the Gunners to secure only their second piece of silverware in the Club’s history.
After a scrappy opening, the Blues took the lead on seven minutes through Kane.
Kane celebratesKane is ecstatic after firing the Blues into the lead.
The goal certainly shocked the cup holders into life and the Gunners went close through Karen Carney but some resolute defending off the line from Michelle Evans ensured the Toffees’ lead was not short lived.
Kelly Smith tested the reflexes of Danielle Hill with a stinging shot from 20 yards before Rachel Unitt headed the ball onto her own crossbar with a last ditch clearance from Smith’s looping goalbound effort.
Hill almost gifted the Gunners an equaliser when she spilled Carney’s low centre with Lianne Sanderson lurking but the custodian managed to gratefully retrieve the ball back to safety.
Despite the relentless Arsenal pressure, the Blues nearly doubled their advantage through Dowie but the striker could only guide her header over Emma Byrne’s bar.
Everton emerged for the second half brimming with confidence and Dowie should have given Mo Marley’s side a 2-0 lead on 55 minutes.
The niece of former Coventry City boss Iain Dowie, found herself one on one with the keeper following Fara Williams’ exquisite threaded pass but the summer signing from Charlton Athletic could only shoot straight into Byrne’s body.
Jody Handley was at the heart of all the Blues’ good work but the offside flag evaded a number of flowing moves.
On 72 Dowie was replaced by Toni Duggan and the substitute had an immediate impact when she headed into the side netting from a corner.
The last 10 minutes saw wave after wave of Arsenal pressure with Julie Fleeting flashing a header wide after escaping her marker.
Some last gasp defending secured Everton Ladies a deserved victory and a trophy at long last to end Arsenal’s dominance.
From EFC Official website.
Soon to add the EUFA Cup as well for the men
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