Lianne Sanderson grabbed a hat-trick as defending champions Arsenal
maintained their perfect start to the Premier League campaign with
a 6-0 win against Sunderland.
However it was Rachel Yankey that got her team off to a flying
start in the second minute after she latched on to a pass from
Sanderson to strike home.
Sanderson's first came 18 minutes later after a good
combination of play between Anita Asante and Karen Carney which
ended with Carney backheeling the ball into Sanderson's path.
The England striker simply had to beat the advancing keeper.
Yankey and Sanderson then doubled their tallies after 22 and 37
minutes respectively to give Arsenal a 4-0 lead at the
interval.
Just seconds before the half time whistle Lyndsey Fletcher was
involved in a clash with Jayne Ludlow which saw the Sunderland
teenager stretchered from the pitch with a suspected dislocated
knee. As a result there was a delay of nearly 45 minutes before the
second half could begin.
Both teams were obviously shocked by the horrible injury to
Fletcher but Sunderland came out in the second half with extra
determination and showed great chararcter in trying to keep Arsenal
at bay.
It wasn't till the 62nd minute that Carney grabbed
Arsenal's fifth. Then Sanderson completed her hat-trick just
five minutes later when Sian Larkin sent in a low driven cross
which Sanderson controlled before beating two defenders and firing
low into the far corner.
Vic Akers' team now travel to Denmark on Friday for the
first leg of their all-important UEFA Women's Cup Semi-Final
clash with Brondby IF on November 4. The decisive return leg takes
place on Saturday, November 11 at Borehamwood FC, with kick off at
2pm.
Attendance: 350
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