Like their male counterparts, Arsenal Ladies now sit pretty on
top of the League.
Vic Akers side overcame a resilient Blackburn outfit 3-1 at
Clitheroe FC on Sunday with goals from Faye White, Julie Fleeting
and Kelly Smith.
The Gunners dominated possession in the opening exchanges but
struggled to apply the killer finish when it counted in the final
third.
Ferocious wind coupled with a less than favourable pitch meant
that the game did not suit Arsenal's eye-pleasing style and an
unorthodox direct approach was required.
Deadlocked at half-time, the Gunners began the second-half with
promise and eventually got the breakthrough though White - the
captain crashing home a loose ball in the box following a
corner.
From that point on momentum remained with the visitors.
After an extended spell of pressure Fleeting notched the second
following good work from Rachel Yankey. It should have killed the
tie, but Rovers were handed a life-line when Katie Anderton
intercepted a loose ball before coolly slotting home past Emma
Byrne in the Arsenal goal.
The hosts failed to seize the initiative from that point on and
Smith's late spot-kick, after she had been bundled over, sealed
victory.
Arsenal will now play a re-arranged fixture against Liverpool
this weekend at Borehamwood. Kick-off 2 pm.
A full-list of the Club's recent fixture changes can be
found in the Ladies fixture list.
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
