Departing duo reflect on Final farewell

By Declan Taylor

After both scoring in their farewell game for Arsenal Ladies, Kelly Smith and Alex Scott reflected on an emotion-fuelled evening at Glanford Park.

The pair will join the Boston Breakers in the Women¹s Professional Soccer League next week, but before they departed they made their mark one last time in Arsenal's colours as Vic Akers¹ side beat Doncaster Rovers Belles 5-0 in the League Cup Final.

First Smith hit a typically clinical hat-trick before turning provider with a superb through-ball that Scott lifted delicately over the Doncaster goalkeeper.

After the game, the pair spoke to Arsenal.com about signing off on a high note.

“It’s a sad day really,” Smith said. “Happy but emotional and sad at the same time.

“It was important that we picked up our first trophy available but I’m delighted to get on the scoresheet and finish on a high.

“It’s great for Alex to score as well because she hasn’t got on the scoresheet much this season. I’m really happy for her and you can tell that the Club means a lot to her. 

“She’s grown up here and I know it’s been a wrench for her to go abroad because the Club is in her blood as well.”

If Smith is remembered for the quality and quantity of her Arsenal goals down the years (103 in 114 appearances since her return to the Club in 2005), Scott’s legacy will be one particular strike in Northern Sweden in April 2007.

In the first leg of the Uefa Women’s Cup Final, Scott’s thunderbolt from 30 yards - one of the most important goals in Arsenal Ladies history - secured Vic Akers’ side a slender advantage against Umea. 

The Ladies then held the Swedes to a goalless draw on home soil to clinch the Gunners’ first and only European trophy.

Scott said: “It’s a great way to sign off with a goal and a win in the League Cup Final. I’m leaving a great bunch of girls and I’ll miss them dearly.

“I haven’t had a good scoring record this season. I don’t know what was going through my brain I just made sure I kept it on target. When it went in I got really emotional.

“Knowing this was my last game and the last goal in a final, to remember that will be a great feeling for me.”

[Friday, February 27, 2009]

Print this page Email to a friend