League Cup: Ladies 9-0 Nott'm Forest

Arsenal booked their place in the Semi Finals of the League Cup
with a 9-0 humbling of Northern Division Nottingham Forest at
Boreham Wood on Sunday.

The rout came courtesy of a first-half hat-trick from Lianne
Sanderson, a brace apiece for Kelly Smith and Katie Chapman, plus
strikes from Rachel Yankey and Sian Larkin.

The Gunners rested Julie Fleeting and Karen Carney, and also had
Wales captain Jane Ludlow missing due to her international
commitments. Nonetheless the game opened at a frantic pace and
with only four minutes on the clock Sanderson headed home her first
from Gemma Davison's inch-perfect cross.

Forest were struggling to keep up with Arsenal's speed of
play and just five minutes later Chapman doubled the advantage,
slotting home a low drive after a good Gunners move.

Smith saw a header rebound off the foot of the post on 27
minutes but followed up to make it 3-0. Sanderson then hit two
well-taken goals on 35 and 40 minutes to give the Gunners a
comfortable half-time lead. Her hat-trick goal was a joy to behold.
Davison again caused problems down the right flank before crossing
for Smith to roll a precise pass to Sanderson, who took one touch
before firing home from the edge of the box.

In the second half the visitors came out reorganised and showed
great determination to keep Arsenal at bay. They did so until 59
minutes when Smith played a defence-splitting through ball for
Chapman to slot past the advancing keeper.

Yankey added another, crashing a left-footed strike into the
roof of the net, before Larkin smashed the goal of the game from 20
yards. Smith then completed the rout after the Forest keeper
spilled a powerful strike from Danielle Buet.

The result means the Gunners advance to the Semi Final where
they will face Chelsea at Boreham Wood on December 10. Next up for
Vic Akers' side is a league trip to Birmingham on Sunday.