KEEPER THE PENALTY HERO AS GUNNERS SHOOT DOWN CROYDON

Arsenal 0
Croydon 0
(AET: Arsenal won 4-3 on penalties)

FA Women’s Premier League Cup final 1997-98
Underhill Stadium, Barnet 
2 March 1998

Teenage goalkeeper Sarah Reed was the penalty shoot-out hero as Arsenal won the 1997-98 Premier League Cup final in dramatic style.

Ten months after making her England debut on the day before her 17th birthday, Reed kept out spot-kicks from ex-Arsenal defender Gill Wylie and England striker Kerry Davis to ensure that Arsenal lifted the trophy for the fourth time in its then seven year history.

The Gunners, who in the semi-final had required penalties to beat Bradford City after a 2-2 draw, edged home following a goalless stalemate after extra time of a final that either side might have won from the chances they created in 120 minutes of combative football.

Arsenal had the better of the opening half, but Reed’s opposite number Louise Cooper keep out their best efforts with great saves from right back Kirsty Pealling and striker Marianne Spacey.

Cooper denied Spacey again shortly after half-time, but as the second half wore on Croydon took control and went close through player manager Debbie Bampton, midfielder Sammy Britton and striker Joanne Broadhurst – all three former Arsenal players.

Broadhurst went closest to finding the net when, in extra time, her fiercely struck free-kick bounced back into play off the underside of the bar.

And so to the shoot-out, which Arsenal won 4-3 with Reed saving each of Croydon’s final two spot-kicks. “I was nervous after Louise had saved our first penalty and the pressure was on me to save at least one,” said Reed, “but I was lucky to go the right way and save from Gill then Kerry.

Croydon boss Bampton said: “Arsenal didn’t beat us in open play, whereas the penalty shoot-out could have gone either way. Let Arsenal have the League Cup and we’ll have the FA Cup.”

Sadly for Bampton and her team they did not win the FA Cup that season. They did reach the final, but were beaten 3-2. By Arsenal….

Arsenal (4-4-2): Reed; Pealling (Scrivens 100), White, Harwood, Jerray-Silver; Daly, Slee, Williams, Few; Spacey, Yankey.
Substitutes not used: Downham, Watt, Cantey, Hastings 

Croydon (3-5-2): Cooper; Wylie, Bampton, Cottier; Stoffel (Dines 69), Britton, Powell, Davies, Fletcher (Liran 105); Broadhurst, Proctor.
Substitutes not used:  Osborne, Darby, Wiggins.

(Source: 1989-99 AXA F.A. Women’s Premier League Cup Final programme.)

RESULTS (dates unknown)

First Round
Arsenal 6-2 Huddersfield Town
Barry Town 3-6 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Blyth Spartans Kestrels 5-3 Ipswich Town
Bradford City 6-0 Arnold Town
Doncaster Belles 1-1 Liverpool AET (Liverpool won on penalties)
Leyton Orient 1-4 Southampton Saints
Sheffield Wednesday 6-0 Coventry City
Three Bridges 2-3 Croydon
Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Wembley 3-1 Bloxwich Town
Berkhamsted Town 11-1 Rushden & Diamonds
Garswood Saints 1-4 Ilkeston Town
Langford 0-9 Wimbledon
Whitehawk 2-1 Aston Villa

Byes were given to 1996-97 finalists Millwall Lionesses and Everton

Second Round
Arsenal 2-1 Millwall Lionesses
Ilkeston Town 2-3 Croydon
Liverpool 7-0 Whitehawk
Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Blyth Spartans Kestrels AET (Tranmere won on penalties)
Wembley 0-5 Bradford City
Wimbledon 2-3 Southampton Saints
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-8 Everton
Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Berkhamsted Town

Quarter-finals
Bradford City 4-2 Southampton Saints
Croydon 2-1 Liverpool
Everton 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
Arsenal 4-0 Berkhamsted Town

Semi-finals
Bradford City 2-2 Arsenal AET (Arsenal won on penalties)
Croydon 2-0 Everton

Final
2/3/1998
Arsenal 0-0 Croydon 0 (AET: Arsenal won 4-3 on penalties)