05 August 2005
Arsenal 4-0 Charlton Athletic: Highlights

Highlights of Arsenal's 4-0 FA Women's Community Shield win over London rivals and FA Women's Cup winners Charlton Athletic.


Arsenal manager Vic Akers paid tribute to Jayne Ludlow after the midfielder, playing as a makeshift striker, stole the show with two tremendous goals as Arsenal beat Charlton Athletic 4-0 in the FA Women’s Community Shield.

With first-choice strikers Kelly Smith and Julie Fleeting both out of the starting line-up, Welsh international Ludlow was paired up front with teenager Lianne Sanderson.

And after midfielder Ciara Grant had opened the scoring, Ludlow struck twice with stunning long-range efforts and Sanderson claimed the Gunners’ other goal.

"Jayne was fantastic," enthused Akers. "She’s an off-the-cuff player - anything can happen with her and tonight she hit two great goals. I couldn’t believe the second one - that was some skill!"

"I shut my eyes," joked Ludlow as she recounted her aerial 18-yard volley that simply flew into the roof of the net.

The midfielder had never played up front before a recent spell in America with W-League team New York Magic.

"They were short of strikers so I filled in," explained Ludlow. "I learned a few things out there and everything came together for me tonight."

Both Ludlow and Grant were linked with close season moves to Charlton and Addicks boss Keith Boanas admitted: "It was hard to swallow, looking at those two."

But Boanas was more concerned with his own players, who despite creating several goalscoring opportunities did not match up to the standards demanded by the manager.

"I’m very angry," he said. "Katie Chapman (the England midfielder) was outstanding - but we needed another nine like her!

"There was a lack of passion and desire. Too many heads were down and there was a lack of character."

Like Arsenal, Charlton were missing several key players. Added to that, Boanas felt Arsenal’s first two goals were dubious due to the referee "missing things" in the build-up.

But he refused to make excuses, instead praising Arsenal and pledging to quickly get his players back on track.

"Arsenal looked lean and sharp," he said. "I was really impressed with them - and with Fleeting and Smith to come back, they’ll be formidable.

"But somebody’s got to compete with them - and I still think we can do it."

Ominously for would-be challenging clubs, however, Gunners boss Akers set out his aims for the season.

"It would be nice to reach the UEFA Cup final," he said, "but I’m more interested in the domestic scene - and I want to win all three major trophies!"

Women's Bulletin, 8 August 2005