Charlton Athletic 1-0 Everton

The FA Women's Cup Final in partnership with Nationwide
West Ham United FC, Upton Park
02 May 2005, 1.00pm

Eighteen year-old England striker Eniola Aluko hit a fairy tale winner as Charlton made it third time lucky in their quest for a first ever FA Cup triumph.

Three days after pulling out of the national squad for Friday’s international against Norway in order to concentrate on revision for her ‘A’ levels, Aluko coolly struck the 58th minute goal that sealed victory for the Addicks.

"It was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life," said Aluko as she celebrated her 13th and most important goal of the season.

The feeling throughout the Charlton camp was likewise highly emotional as they savoured success after losing first to Fulham then to Arsenal in the previous two FA Cup finals.

"There’s a great sign in the home dressing room here," noted manager Keith Boanas. "It says ‘forget the memories of the past and focus on the future’ – I told the girls to read it and it certainly seemed to sink in.

"I’m immensely proud of the players. I couldn’t have asked for any more from any of them. In the last two finals we didn’t do ourselves justice but today we did – it’s been a massive collective effort and we really showed how we can play."

Ecstasy for Charlton was agony for Everton, who failed to break London’s domination of the FA Cup. Not since Doncaster Belles lifted the trophy in 1994 has a club from outside the capital won the competition.

And manager Mo Marley admitted: "Charlton were by far the better team on the day. We were only at ten per cent of what we can offer and I’m more disappointed in the way we played than the fact that we lost.

"It was a lesson for us though, and hopefully we’ll come back stronger next season. We’ve certainly come on as a team – 18 months ago we were relegation material, but this season we’ve gained a lot of credibility."

Marley’s team made a more than credible start to the final, running the early stages and going close to taking the lead when left back Rachel Unitt headed just wide from a seventh minute cross by former Charlton midfielder Fara Williams.

But after that early scare Charlton grew in confidence and created several chances to give themselves a first half lead.

They went desperately close in the 22nd minute, when striker Ann-Marie Heatherson’s 12 yard shot bounced off the far post and into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Danielle Hill.

Seven minutes later Hill made a fine double save, diving to block the ball as Aluko tried to take it past her then recovering to block the subsequent shot of Heatherson.

When the two Charlton strikers combined in the 34th minute a goal should have resulted, but as Aluko’s clever cross dropped over Hill the unmarked Heatherson headed wide of the empty net.

The Londoners almost paid for that miss two minutes before the interval, winger Jody Handley crossing from the Everton right and - after keeper Pauline Cope had completely missed the ball – right back Karen Hills having to make a desperate clearance under pressure from striker Amy Kane.

But two minutes after the break the Addicks were again cursing their luck as Heatherson, meeting a cross from midfielder Dani Murphy, headed against the near post.

Charlton finally made the breakthrough when Aluko, racing on to a lofted through-ball by central defender Emma Coss, slid a low shot past Hill and into the far corner of the net.

Everton hit back strongly and, 60 seconds after Cope had made a point blank save from Handley, the Charlton keeper pulled off a fine 64th minute stop from midfielder Kelly McDougall following Handley’s cross.

Cope then finger-tipped a 20 yard free-kick by Williams over the bar two minutes from time. But that was a close as the Toffees came to equalising and, as play moved into stoppage time, only a great save by Hill from winger Jo Broadhurst prevented a second Charlton goal.

Marley said: "We had four players up front in the last 20 minutes and still didn’t look like scoring. We worked hard throughout the game, but the basics we do week in, week out we didn’t get right today."

Her opposite number Boanas was almost as relieved as he was delighted to have seen his team’s third-time-lucky win, but he insisted they were worth it.

"We deserved that," he said, "but we’ve been in contention for all three titles in the toughest season yet in women’s football – and after missing out to Arsenal in the League and the League Cup, it would have been a travesty if we hadn’t cracked it today."

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Cope; Hills, Coss, Stoney, Sinclair-Chambers; Murphy, Smith, Williams, Broadhurst; Aluko, Heatherson (Clarke 69).
Substitutes: Hunn, Cabey-Gooden, Reidy, Snare.

Goals: Aluko 58

Everton (4-3-3): Hill; Easton, Britton, Johnson, Unitt; Williams, McDougall, Duffy (Evans 66); Handley, Parry, Kane (J. Jones 87).
Substitutes: Eadie, C. Jones, Byrne

Attendance: 8,567