Arsenal Ladies progressed to the Semi-Finals of the Women's
League Cup by defeating Bristol City 5-0 on a cold, wet and windy
Sunday afternoon at Boreham Wood FC.
The lower league side battled intrepidly and held the Cup
holders until a minute before half time. But Vic Akers' side
took control in the second period and eventually saw off the
visitors with ease, courtesy of goals from Jayne Ludlow, Kelly
Smith, Lianne Sanderson, Anita Asante and Ciara Grant.
Several hours of rain had made the pitch extremely slippery and
that created problems for both sides. Certainly Arsenal found it
difficult to exert their presence on the game at the start. Kirsty
Pealling whipped in a seventh-minute free kick and Faye White
failed to make contact at the back post. A few minutes later
Sanderson almost curled in a corner directly. After clipping the
near post it was frantically cleared from the line.
Bristol City enjoyed spells of possession in the first half, and
created chances of their own. Keeper Emma Byrne needed to be on top
form to cope with the conditions as shots skidded off the greasy
pitch. But as the rain began to get worse, so Arsenal began to
dominate more.Sanderson, Rachel Yankey and Smith were asking
questions of the opposition defence. All three could have opened
the scoring after a barrage of chances.
It was Ludlow who finally did it in the 44th minute, slipping
the ball under the keeper after Gemma Davison had beaten the
offside trap and squared the ball for her.
The second half was all about Arsenal. They dominated a tiring
Bristol team and, this time, finished off their chances. On the
hour, Smith cut inside from the left and was tripped in the box.
She got up to the convert the spot-kick herself.
Ten minutes later Smith raced through again and rounded the
keeper as she rushed from the box. Pushed out wide, the England
international cut back inside before coolly crossing for Sanderson
to have a simple tap-in.
Moments later Anita Asante got her goal with an easy finish
after being played through by Ludlow. Grant, on for Sanderson,
headed home a Smith corner in the final minute to finish the job
for Arsenal. The only downside for Akers' side came when
substitute Alex Scott was carried from the pitch after suffering an
injury in added time.
Charlton and Doncaster are also in the Semi-Finals while the
Quarter-Final between Sunderland and Everton was postponed at the
weekend.
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