Arsenal 5 (Grant 5, Ludlow 12, 71, Spacey 20, Banks 90)  
Doncaster Belles 2 (Garside 6, Walker 49)

Kingsmeadow, Saturday 11 August 2001
Attendance 1,003

INTERNATIONALS SHOOT GUNNERS TO SHIELD VICTORY

Early goals by Irish, Welsh and English internationals set up the 2000-01 FA Cup and Premier League winners Arsenal for a comfortable victory over their long-time rivals in the second edition of the FA Charity Shield.

Doncaster had finished runners-up to the Gunners in the league and were second best again at the Kingsmeadow ground of Ryman League team Kingstonian.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Ciara Grant opened Arsenal’s account after just five minutes, and though Mel Garside equalised within 60 seconds the game swung inexorably in Arsenal’s favour as Wales star Jayne Ludlow restored the Gunners’ advantage in the 12th minute and England striker Marieanne Spacey – who also missed a first half penalty – added a third goal eight minutes later.

Donny kept their hopes alive as Spacey’s England strike partner Karen Walker pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half.

But Ludlow bagged a decisive fourth Arsenal goal in the 71st minute and, to put the icing on the cake, striker Angela Banks – yet another England international in the Gunners’ squad – scored to complete their five-star display.

Arsenal’s manager Vic Akers was absent from the game as he was fulfilling his duties as kit man for the club’s men’s team.

But Donny boss Julie Chipchase watched from the touchline and admitted: “At times we didn't look as if we understood what system we were playing.”

Arsenal (3-5-2): Byrne (Wayne, 87); McDonald, Stoney (Tracey, 72), White; Wheatley (Champ, h-t), Grant (Maggs, 76), Ludlow, Williams, Pealling; Banks, Spacey (Moore, 80).

Doncaster Belles (4-4-2): Hall; Copeland, Easton, Lowe, Petrovic (Gomersall, 87); Embleton (McCool, 77), Burke, Exley, Garside (Borman, 61); Abrahams (Torr, 84), Walker.

Referee: J Frampton.