Smith settles it

Arsenal started where they left off last term as they clinched The FA Women's Community Shield, with a well-taken Kelly Smith goal proving the difference as they overcame rivals Everton.

Everton will be looking to build on their progress last term as they continue to make up ground on Arsenal, particularly with their first silverware in ten years coming with a victory over the Gunners in the Premier League Cup Final, and they proved how close the gap is with a determined performance - but Arsenal narrowly took the spoils.

Jo Potter was denied by a splendid save from Emma Byrne when she looked destined to open the scoring. Natasha Dowie breezed past Yvonne Tracey and showed composure to cut the ball back across goal to the waiting Potter who saw her right-footed efforted blocked by the feet of Byrne in the Arsenal goal.

With that chance the game opened up after a tense start and both Arsenal and Everton would have chances to gain an early advantage. Karen Carney strode past Michelle Evans before finding Kelly Smith at the near post who would present Alex Scott with a shooting chance that was well blocked.

Moments later Emily Westwood found herself on the end of a neat move that saw Natasha Dowie linking play well and interchanging with Everton captain Fara Williams, before Westwood shot straight at Byrne.

With 20 minutes gone Kelly Smith's right-footed strike from the edge of the area was glanced over the bar by Lindsay Johnson. Latching on to a dropping ball outside the box but with her less-favoured foot, Smith's effort had looked goalbound before Johnson intervened.

Rachel Unitt was indebted to her central-defensive partner Johnson when she rescued a golden opportunity for Gemma Davison. The Arsenal forward, who will see more first-team opportunities following the departure of Lianne Sanderson to Chelsea, was gifted a run on goal as Unitt mistimed her clearance and presented the chance that Johnson so bravely blocked when a goal looked inevitable.

Toni Duggan produced a moment of magic in first-half injury time as she glided past three Arsenal defenders but dragged her shot wide of the far post after doing the hard work. It was the final kick of the first period and would prove a fitting example of the type of play that littered the first-half; fine build up but lacking a decisive finish to open the game up.

Although Fara Williams had spent the majority of her first in a deep-lying role, she proved how dangerous she can be straight after the interval as she strode forward and fired a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the the top corner. Having ended last season with a stunning hat-trick for England away to Belarus, all three from long range, Williams showed that she is a danger from distance.

On the hour mark Jayne Ludlow passed up a glorious chance to open the scoring as she headed wide from little more than seven yards out. Alex Scott fired a deep cross that evaded Johnson and Unitt and the Arsenal captain ghosted into the centre of goal but put her header wide of the target.

Arsenal went closer still when Rachel Brown had to show her bravery and dive at the feet of Karen Carney to deny a certain goal. Gemma Davison carried the ball into the area and pulled it back for Carney who did everything right, but Brown dived quickly down at her feet to turn the ball wide.

The Premier League Champions finally broke the deadlock with 18 minutes remaining with none other than Kelly Smith on the scoresheet. Karen Carney raced clear from a long pass only for Rachel Brown to slide at her feet once more, but this time the ball broke for Smith who cooly lobbed the ball into the empty net.

It was Smith's final involvement as she made way for the promising young Scottish midfielder Kim Little, but it was a decisive moment and another reminder of Arsenal's stranglehold on the domestic game. Though Everton would battle with determination to restore parity it was not to be and Arsenal began the season where they left off last year - victorious with silverware aloft.

Teams

Arsenal
1 Emma Byrne, 2 Alex Scott, 3 Yvonne Tracey, Jayne Ludlow (c), 5 Gilly Flaherty, 7 Ciara Grant, 8 Kelly Smith (16 Kim Little 75), 11 Rachel Yankey, 12 Gemma Davison, 14 Karen Carney, 15 Laura Bassett

Subs Not Used
13 Rebecca Spencer, 18 Natalie Ross, 20 Dani Bird, 6 Faye White

Everton
1 Rachel Brown, 2 Becky Easton, 3 Rachel Unitt, 4 Fara Williams (c), 5 Emily Westwood (14 Michelle Hinnigan 81), 6 Lindsay Johnson, 7 Toni Duggan (16 Isobelle Christiansen 90), 8 Jill Scott, 9 Natasha Dowie, 10 Jo Potter (18 Karen Boyle 64), 11 Michelle Evans

Subs Not Used
13 Danielle Hill, 15 Amy Cleaver-Kane

Referee
Sasa Ihringova

Attendance
1,494