 Thematch programme cover | |||||||
| Event | 2006–07 FA Women's Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 7 May 2007 | ||||||
| Venue | City Ground,Nottingham | ||||||
| Referee | Anthony Bates (Staffordshire) | ||||||
| Attendance | 24,529 | ||||||
←2006 2008 → | |||||||
The2007 FA Women's Cup Final was the 37th final of theFA Women's Cup, England's primarycup competition forwomen's football teams. It was the 14th final to be held under the direct control ofthe Football Association (FA). The final was contested betweenArsenal andCharlton Athletic at theCity Ground on 7 May 2007. Arsenal won the game 4–1 to secure their second successive FA Cup triumph and their eight in total. The match was attended by a crowd of 24,529[1] and was broadcast live onBBC One.[2]
Already winners of theUEFA Women's Cup,FA Women's Premier League National Division and theFA Women's Premier League Cup, Arsenal, managed byVic Akers,[3] came into the game as favourites. Meanwhile Charlton Athletic, managed byKeith Boanas, came through a hard fought semi-final againstBlackburn Rovers, withNatasha Dowie scoring the only goal, to make it to their second final.[2]
Charlton Athletic were given the dream start after just two minutes of play, asEniola Aluko's low cross was slotted in at the far post byKatie Holtham.[4] Arsenal were level within five minutes, asKelly Smith curled home a 25-yard free-kick after being hacked down by Charlton's right-backMaria Bertelli.[5] The Gunners were in front by the quarter hour after winning a free kick near the corner flag:Jayne Ludlow was the quickest to get toLianne Sanderson's near post cross and she steered her shot underneath goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne.[4] Ludlow then claimed her second goal in first-half stoppage-time with a 30-yard strike which flew into the top corner of the net.[5]
Charlton's best chance of the second half came when Aluko broke away and shot throughEmma Byrne's legs, but the shot was diverted wide of the post by the goalkeeper's leg.[6] Meanwhile, the Gunners had plenty of chances to further their lead,[7] but the fourth goal came when Smith curled in a shot nine minutes from time, wrapping up a record-equalling eighth FA Cup win.[5]
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