Arsenal Ladies extended their unbeaten League run in emphatic style
with a fine 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
Welsh international Jayne Ludlow grabbed a hat-trick to take her
season's tally to nine goals in 16 appearances. Julie Fleeting
was also on target - she now has 22 goals from just 14 starts for
the Gunners this season.
The Ladies' first goal came after 17 minutes when a Kelly
Smith shot rebounded off a post to the feet of the onrushing
Ludlow. She simply slotted home into an open net.
Seven minutes later, with Blackburn still reeling from
Ludlow's first effort, Arsenal extended their lead with
'Luds' providing the finishing touch yet again. Connecting
with a deep cross, the former long-jumper struck home a fierce
volley which deceived the Rovers 'keeper and nestled in the
bottom corner.
Blackburn seemed content to defend deep in the hope of catching
Arsenal out with a swift counter-attack. However, chances for
Rovers were few and far between and half-time arrived without Emma
Byrne, the Arsenal goalkeeper, having to muddy her gloves.
Any hope Blackburn had of getting back into the game was quickly
extinguished when, on 52 minutes, Fleeting got her just reward
following a mazy run into the box with a low shot into the goal for
Arsenal's third.
By this point Blackburn were dead and buried and a fourth
Arsenal goal looked inevitable. It duly arrived 15 minutes from
time and gave Ludlow her first hat-trick of the season. Lianne
Sanderson cleverly dummied a pass into the box, leaving the ball
for Ludlow to pick her spot with ease.
Arsenal now sit in third in the FA Women's Premier League
table, one point behind Leeds United and Charlton but with two
games in hand.
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