ARSENAL KANED AS EVERTON PULL OFF HUGE CUP FINAL SHOCK
Arsenal 0
Everton 1 (Kane 7)
FA Women’s Premier League Cup final
Matchroom Stadium (Leyton Orient)
28 February 2008
Attendance 5,008
An early goal by midfielder Amy Kane saw Everton pull off a massive shock to win the 1997-98 FA Women's Premier League Cup final.
The Toffees’ 1-0 victory ended Arsenal's run of 58 successive victories in domestic competitions since their defeat by Charlton Athletic in the 2006 League Cup final.
The winner came after seven minutes, Kane firing a low 15-yard shot into the far corner of the net from fellow midfielder Jill Scott's cross.
Arsenal had chances to equalise, with striker Kelly Smith's deflected shot hitting the bar; but they could find no way through.
Everton's victory was their first against the Gunners since beating them 3-0 in the 2005 FA Cup semi-final.
Manager Mo Marley, who had captained the Toffees team defeated in the 1999 League Cup final by Arsenal, said: "This is a fantastic night for Everton.
"It's the first time since we beat Arsenal in 2005 that the players have shown the absolute belief in themselves that they showed on that occasion.
"I'm not sure they believed how good they could be, but they've proved it to themselves and everybody else tonight.
"Now we have to build on this – and it will hopefully be the start of Everton becoming a successful team winning trophies on a regular basis."
Match-winner Kane added: "I've been ballooning chances over the bar of late and the girls reckoned I couldn't score.
"But I kept telling them I was waiting for the Cup final - and I showed them! It was a great team performance and a deserved win."
Defeated Arsenal boss Vic Akers admitted: "We just didn't perform. We were lacklustre and didn't want it as much as they did.
"All runs have to come to an end, and although it's bitterly disappointing for us at the moment we have to pick ourselves up and start another run going."
Everton: Hill, Easton (Hinnigan 88), Unitt, Williams, Westwood, Johnson, Handley (c), Scott, Dowie (Duggan 77), Kane, Evans.
Substitutes not used: Duffy, McDougall, Boyle
Arsenal: Byrne, Scott, Ludlow, White (c) (Davison 86), Smith, Sanderson (Grant 64), Fleeting, Yankey, Carney, Asante, Phillip.
Substitutes not used: Tracy, Spencer, Flaherty
Referee: Mr M. McLaughlin
RESULTS
Preliminary Round
2/9/2007
Fulham 6-0 Team Bath
Newcastle United 6-3 Sheffield Wednesday
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Millwall Lionesses 1-3 Lincoln City
First Round
30/9/2007
Aston Villa 1-4 Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers 8-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Colchester United 4-2 Tranmere Rovers
Crewe Alexandra 1-9 Chelsea
Doncaster Rovers Belles 2-0 Crystal Palace
Everton 6-0 Barnet
Newquay 4-3 Keynsham Town
Reading Royals 0-9 West Ham United
Rotherham United 3-6 Portsmouth (AET)
Watford 4-0 Manchester City
7/10/2007
Cardiff City 0-4 Arsenal
Liverpool 2-0 Leeds United
Newcastle United 0-3 Bristol Academy
Preston North End 2-1 Fulham
Sunderland w/o Charlton Athletic
Stockport County 0-2 Lincoln City
Second Round
14/10/2007
Birmingham City 3-0 Portsmouth
Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Bristol Academy
Chelsea 5-1 Lincoln City
Colchester United 2-1 Liverpool (AET)
Preston North End 3-4 Sunderland
Watford 3-2 Doncaster Rovers Belles
21/10/2007
Newquay 1-11 Arsenal
West Ham United 1-4 Everton
Quarter-Finals
4/11/2007
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Liverpool
Everton 3-0 Sunderland
Watford 3-2 Birmingham City
Semi-Finals
16/12/2007
Arsenal 4-0 Liverpool
Watford 1-2 Everton (AET)
Final
28/2/2008
Arsenal 0-1 Everton
