Semi-Final Ties
Sunday 14th March 2004

The Addicks will meet Arsenal, one of their rivals for The FA Nationwide Women’s Premier League crown, in the final after the Gunners won their semi 2-0 against Bristol Rovers.

The two London clubs were hot favourites to go through, but both had their work cut out against hard working opponents who battled all the way.

Charlton captain Casey Stoney paid tribute to Birmingham after the seventh in the table team had really stretched the League leaders before Carmaine Walker hit the all-important breakthrough goal on the hour.

“The result was generous to us,” admitted Stoney. “To be fair, Birmingham had chances to win the match and they’re certainly a team to be reckoned with.

“We weren’t on our game, though. Our passing was not of the usual quality and we didn’t make the most of our chances.

“But at the end of the day the result is what counts in a semi-final, where there’s so much at stake. The FA Cup final is the best day in women’s football – and we’re there!”

May 3rd’s final will be the second in succession for Charlton, who last year were runners-up to Fulham – the team they are set to meet in this season’s League Cup final on Sunday 28th March.

For Arsenal, The FA Cup final will be their sixth in 12 years – and they’ve won the previous five, the last of them against Fulham in 2001.

They had the upper hand for most of their semi-final at Bristol’s Memorial Stadium, but ironically it was after Rovers’ best spell of the match that the Gunners fired their two-goal victory salvo.

Scotland striker Julie Fleeting shot them ahead in the 74th minute and three minutes later England captain Faye White hit the victory clincher.

Reflecting on the victory and another chance to lift the most prestigious trophy in the domestic game, Republic of Ireland midfielder Ciara Grant said: “I’m delighted. We worked really hard for this win and it's great to be going back to the final.

“We knew that Bristol Rovers are a strong team and that they would make it difficult for us. We were thinking “will we ever score?” but we put the pressure and finally got the goal.

“We're glad it's Charlton that we have to play in the final - they’ve beaten us twice this season, so hopefully we're due to beat them!”

While Charlton and Arsenal were progressing to the final, Fulham kept themselves in contention to retain their League title with an emphatic 8-0 win at Tranmere Rovers.

Corinne Yorston and Rachel McArthur each scored twice and there was a goal apiece for Rachel Yankey, Katie Chapman and Sarah Flint with an own goal completing the scoring.

After losing a League match for the first time this season last week, crucially to leaders Charlton, it was a powerful return to winning ways for the second in the table Cottagers.

Manager Marieanne Spacey said: “After the disappointment of last week everybody was buzzing again today – the girls showed a fantastic attitude and the overall performance was excellent.”

The victory put Fulham just two points behind Charlton, each team having three games left to play, but for Tranmere defeat meant that they will be relegated from the top flight alongside already doomed Aston Villa.