Cup Final proves successful for Keepmoat
Arsenal L.F.C met Bristol Academy W.F.C in the FA Women’s Cup Final at the Keepmoat Stadium.
It was the first time the home of Doncaster Rovers has hosted the final and nearly 5,000 fans turned out to see the women’s top domestic cup final. As well as supporters from both sides heading up north for the event, there were plenty of local families with young children and school groups; who really added a community sense to the occasion.
The atmosphere had a cup final feel to it, as the youngsters used the opportunity of the free clappers to keep the noise constant.
The weather was perfect for the cup final day, as fans basked in the sunshine. However, at times it was evident the heat was taking its toll on the players.
As for the match, it was dominated from start to finish by Arsenal with Captain, Steph Houghton, putting her side one-nil up, within the first ten minutes.
Centre forward, Ellen White, was unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions in the first half as the North London outfit entered the break just one goal up, despite creating the majority of the chances. Jordan Nobbs did eventually double Arsenal’s lead when she headed home from the cross of Gemma Davison.
Whilst struggling to match Arsenal, Bristol did have a few moments in which they looked to threaten them, but struggled to break down their opponents. The best moment for Bristol came when Natalia Pablos-Sanchon spectacularly overhead kicked from 10 yards, but it went just over the bar, at 2-0 down. The afternoon got worse for Bristol when Lucy Staniforth suffered what looked to be a terrible leg injury and was stretchered off.
White eventually got the goal her performance deserved when Arsenal hit Bristol on the break in the last few minutes of stoppage time, to make it three-nil.
It was a score line that justified the dominance of Shelley Kerr’s side, who lifted the trophy for a record twelfth time for a spectacular end to a great day at the Keepmoat Stadium.