Arsenal captain Alex Scott says her side are confident of keeping up their remarkable record in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup after the three-time winners beat Birmingham City in the semi-final.
The Gunners will contest their fifth successive final in the competition with goals from Marta Corredera, Danielle Carter and Scott sealing the win shortly after half-time.
Kirsty Linnett pulled one back for Birmingham but Arsenal marched on to book their place at the New York Stadium in Rotherham on 1 November and Scott is already looking forward to the challenge.
Arsenal 3-1 Birmingham City
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup
Semi-final
Meadow Park, Boreham Wood FC
Sunday 11 October 2015
“We played great football at times, we showed character to hold on and stick in the game and we showed the fight and determination at the end when things got a bit ugly,” said Scott. “We showed all sides of our game.
“It’s about all the hard work that goes into the season. You want to come away with some silverware. At Arsenal it’s always been about winning trophies. That was our mentality going into the game, we wanted to get to the final.
“We’ve got a bit of momentum towards the end of the season so we’ll be confident going into the final. It’s pleasing to get to another final.”
There were early warning signs for the Blues after six minutes. Arsenal broke from deep, Carter picked the ball up 25 yards out and cannoned a shot against the bar.
But the Gunners took the lead seven minutes later as Corredera arrowed a terrific shot into the far corner from 25 yards.
Danielle Carter attemps to ride a tackle from Remi Allen
That lead was quickly doubled as Jordan Nobbs played the ball over the top to Carter, who looped the ball over the onrushing Sophie Baggaley and into the net.
Birmingham nearly halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time, but Karen Carney’s deflected effort was pushed on to the post by Sari Van Veenendaal.
And the Gunners moved further ahead two minutes after the break as Scott lashed the ball into the roof of the net from Corredera’s saved shot.
Linnett grabbed a consolation on the hour mark when she curled the ball into the top corner to leave Van Veenendaal rooted to the spot but it was the Gunners who marched on.
“I can’t fault the effort of the girls or their mentality, we just need to believe in ourselves when we go forward,” said Birmingham City manager David Parker.
“When we get the ball down and play in the right manner and do the right things, we are unstoppable at times. But it’s when we get into the 18-yard box. That’s where we need some more belief. But they’re young kids and they’re still developing and learning.
“Sometimes we’ve got that little bit of youth and a few mistakes in us, so we need to get that belief back and then it will all come together.”
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Arsenal (4-3-3): Sari Van Veenendaal; Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Jemma Rose, Leah Williamson; Dominique Janssen, Vicky Losada, Jordan Nobbs; Dan Carter, Natalia Pablos Sanchon, Marta Corredera
Substitutes: Rachel Yankey on for Vicky Losada 70, Chioma Ubogagu on for Natalia Pablos Sanchon 77, Vyan Sampson on for Dominique Janssen 89
Substitutes not used: Emma Byrne, Vyan Sampson, Chioma Ubogagu, Carla Humphrey, Chloe Kelly, Jade Bailey
Goals: Corredera 13, Carter 14, Scott 47
Birmingham City (4-3-3): Sophie Baggaley; Meghan Sargeant, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Jessica Carter; Emily Westwood, Josanne Porter, Remi Allen; Melissa Lawley, Kirsty Linnett, Karen Carney
Substitutes: Freda Ayisi on for Emily Westwood 81, Charlie Wellings on for Karen Carney 87
Substitutes not used: Alex Windell, Danielle Hill, Coral Haines, Chloe Peplow
Bookings: Linnett 75
Goal: Linnett 58
Referee: Nigel Lugg
Attendance: 782
