Top that, Fergie! Arsenal Ladies see off Sunderland in FA Cup final to deliver 30th trophy for retir
04 May 2009 05:49
Vic Akers won his 30th honour as Arsenal women's manager in hispenultimate game in charge as they beat Sunderland 2-1 in thewomen's FA Cup final.
Goals from Katie Chapman and Kim Little added to Akers' long listof achievements, highlighted by their European and domestic Quadruplein 2006-07.
While only one goal separated the teams on paper, the margin ofvictory could have been much greater as Arsenal dominated the gamethroughout.
Suzanne Grant was guilty of squandering several chances and on another day might have had a hat-trick.
In only the fourth minute, she ran into the area to hit a side-footed shot that slid just wide of the right-hand post.
After a rare Sunderland attack ended with a weak Jordan Nobbs shot,Grant was back on the attack and did a better job of testing HelenAlderson, who let the ball slip under her body before Lucy Bronzehacked it off the line.
The goalkeeper was at fault for the first Arsenal goal as shespilt Gemma Davison's shot straight into the path of Chapman for aneasy finish.
Grant then missed another chance as Little's pass found her all alone but a rushed shot went wide.
The second half was slow to get started, and the flow of the gamewas not helped with Sophie Williams suffering a very nasty injury -reportedly suffering a seizure on the pitch - just before the hourmark.
The game was held up for more than five minutes but Arsenal resumed their dominance once it did get going again, with Ciara Grant sending a good chance wide after Alderson only half-cleared a corner.
Alderson kept out late efforts from Karen Ludlow and GillyFlaherty, but Little settled it in injury time, bringing down a longball before a neat turn and finish.
Kelly McDougall got a consolation for Sunderland with last kick of the game, but it was too little, too late.
Akers can add a 31st honour in his final game before turning fulltime to his first-team kit man duties, as Arsenal go head to head withtitle rivals Everton next week.
