CROYDON CRUSHED AS GUNNERS LIFT LEAGUE CUP YET AGAIN
Arsenal 4 (Grant 12, Pealling 48, Wheatley 54, Spacey (pen) 57)
Croydon 1 (Proctor 63)
FA Women’s Premier League Cup final
Underhill Stadium, Barnet
1 April 2000
Attendance 1,024
A devastating spell of three goals in 10 second half minutes was the key to Arsenal destroying their fierce London rivals and reigning Premier League champions to lift the League Cup for the third successive season and a sixth time in all.
With the final televised for the first time by Sky Sports, the Gunners broadcast their talents to full effect after taking the lead through midfielder Ciara Grant’s 25-yard strike in the 12th minute.
Croydon were still in the game at the interval, but there was no way back for them after the Gunners’ quick-fire three-goal salvo.
Three minutes after the break a close range header by right back Kirsty Pealling doubled Arsenal’s lead, then left back Clare Wheatley bagged the third goal with a neat lob over former Arsenal goalkeeper Pauline Cope.
A 57th minute foul on striker Angela Banks by Croydon captain and ex-Gunners skipper Gill Wylie led to the victory clincher, striker Marieanne Spacey driving home the resultant penalty.
Though Croydon striker Tara Proctor drilled a fine 30-yard drive into the Arsenal net to reduce the deficit five minutes later, a full-scale fight-back never looked on the cards.
Croydon were humbled on the day but were to bounce back in style, not only going on to retain their Premier League crown but also to complete a memorable double by winning the FA Cup.
Arsenal: Byrne, Pealling (Few 65), Wheatley, Stoney, Harwood, White, Willams (C), Banks (Lorton 57), Spacey, Grant (Maggs 67), Yankey.
Unused substitutes: Higgs, Wooliscroft.
Croydon: Cope, Barber, Fletcher, G. Hunt (Hunn 70), Wylie (C), Loizou, C. Hunt, Bampton, Proctor, Broadhurst, Arnold.
Unused substitutes: Cowan, Darby, Cottier, Spry
Referee: A. Rayner (Staffs)
Assistants: A. S. Bennett (Sussex), S. R. Riley (Hants)
Fourth Official: D. J. Buckeridge (Herts)
RESULTS
Preliminary Round
12/9/1999
Leeds United 2-0 Birmingham City
Cardiff City 0-4 Ilkeston Town
First Round
26/9/1999
Tranmere Rovers 4-2 Ipswich Town
Barry Town 0-0 Aston Villa (Villa won 6-5 on penalties)
Coventry City 0-5 Leeds United
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Ilkeston Town 0-1 Wembley Mill Hill
Berkhamsted 0-6 Liverpool
Reading Royals 1-0 Arnold Town
Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 Millwall Lionesses
Bradford City 0-5 Doncaster Belles
Bangor City 3-2 BS Kestrels
Croydon 4-0 Wimbledon
Arsenal 6-0 Langford
Barking 3-5 Southampton Saints
Whitehawk 1-2 Huddersfield Town
3/10/1999
Barnet 5-3 Garswood Saints
10/10/1999
Three Bridges 0-4 Everton
Second Round
31/10/99
Bangor City 4-3 Leeds United
Reading Royals 0-4 Doncaster Belles
Aston Villa 1-7 Arsenal
Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Barnet
Wembley Mill Hill 5-1 Huddersfield Town
7/11/1999
Southampton Saints 5-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Croydon 4-1 Liverpool
Third Round
28/11/1999
Southampton Saints 1-8 Tranmere Rovers
Everton 2-1 Doncaster Belles
Croydon 4-0 Wembley Mill Hill
Arsenal 6-1 Bangor City
Semi-finals
23/1/2000
Croydon 5-0 Tranmere Rovers
Everton 1-2 Arsenal (AET)
Final
1/4/2000
Arsenal 4-1 Croydon
