Ladies: Arsenal 4-1 Bristol Academy

After beating Bristol Academy 2-0 on Sunday to progress through
to the FA Cup Final, Arsenal got off to a flyer in this midweek
League fixture against the same opponents, scoring three goals
within the first 11 minutes.

Lianne Sanderson grabbed the first almost immediately from the
kick-off. Arsenal's first attack resulted in a goalmouth
scramble that the striker latched on to quickest.

Four minutes later Katie Chapman doubled the score after
she brushed off a defender to slot home.

Rachel Yankey then put the game beyond Bristol in the 11th
minute with the best goal of the game, a fine 25-yard strike that
Bristol's keeper could do nothing about.

However Bristol grabbed a controversial penalty on 41 minutes
after Anita Asante handled the ball in the box, after confusion
over whether the play had been resumed on a Bristol free-kick.

Captain Corrine Yorston stepped up and converted the penalty to
make it 3-1 at half time.  

In the second period Sanderson looked most likely to add another
goal after going close on several occasions. And on 82 minutes
she did. The 19-year-old rounded two defenders on
the edge of the box before firing home a fierce shot to make the
final score 4-1.

Arsenal now sit five pionts clear of second-placed Everton. This
Sunday they travel to fourth-placed Leeds before meeting Charlton
for the first time on Thursday 29th March at Borehamwood FC.
Kick-off 7.45pm.