2006 FA Women's Cup final

The 2006 FA Women's Cup Final was the 36th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. It was the 13th final to be held under the direct control of the Football Association (FA). The final was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United on 1 May 2006 at The Den in New Cross, London.[2] Leeds United made its first final appearance. Arsenal entered a seventh final having won the trophy on all six previous occasions.

2006 FA Women's Cup Final
The match programme cover
Event2005–06 FA Women's Cup
Arsenal Ladies Leeds United
5 0
Date1 May 2006 (2006-05-01)
VenueThe Den, London
Player of the MatchLianne Sanderson
RefereePhil Crossley (Kent)
Attendance13,452[1]

Unbeaten League champions Arsenal entered the match as strong favourites,[3] in a contest billed as a contrast of styles. The match attracted a crowd of 13,452 and was broadcast live on BBC One.[4] Goals from Fleeting, Yankey and Sanderson, added to Lucy Ward's early own goal and Kelly Smith's penalty, gave Arsenal an emphatic 5–0 win which secured their seventh FA Cup win and a third "double" in six seasons.[5][6]

Background

Leeds United legend Allan Clarke presented the women's team with sock tags before the match, similar to those famously worn by the Leeds United male team in their 1972 FA Cup Final victory, in a bid to give the team luck.[7]

Match

Summary

Arsenal took the lead after three minutes, when Leeds's Lucy Ward – playing out of position at centre-back[8] – miscued a clearance then headed the resultant corner past her own goalkeeper Gemma Fay. On 34 minutes Julie Fleeting made it 2–0, by running onto Lianne Sanderson's pass and shooting low past Fay. One minute later it was 3–0 as Rachel Yankey's attempted cross[9] from a free kick from the right wing sailed over the head of Gemma Fay, who misjudged the flight of the ball.[10]

Fay made several saves to keep the score down, but Arsenal continued to dominate. Leeds manager Julie Chipchase later admitted tactical errors in assigning Nicole Emmanuel a marking job on Kelly Smith and bringing Nat Preston back for her first game since a serious injury in January. Leeds striker Karen Walker was isolated and unable to make an impression in her final game before her retirement.[11] Leeds's best chances were two speculative efforts from Karen Burke, which failed to trouble Arsenal's goalkeeper Emma Byrne.[12]

On 73 minutes, Leeds's 16 year old winger Jess Clarke tripped Yankey to concede a penalty kick which Kelly Smith, playing in her first FA Cup final, converted to make it 4–0. Lianne Sanderson then made a solo dribble down the right wing and shot past Fay to make the score 5–0 on 77 minutes. With five minutes remaining Leeds substituted Karen Walker, who left the pitch for the final time to a standing ovation.[13] Sanderson was named Player of the Match by the BBC television match summariser Marieanne Spacey.[14]

Details
Arsenal Ladies5–0Leeds United
 Report
Attendance: 13,452
Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent)
Arsenal
Leeds United
GK1 Emma Byrne
RB12 Alex Scott 84'
CB6 Faye White (c)
CB23 Mary Phillip 78'
LB5 Leanne Champ
CM4 Jayne Ludlow 74'
CM18 Anita Asante
RW9 Lianne Sanderson
AM8 Kelly Smith
LW14 Rachel Yankey
CF10 Julie Fleeting
Substitutes:
DF15 Cori Daniels 84'
MF11 Rachel McArthur 78'
MF7 Ciara Grant 74'
DF2 Kirsty Pealling
FW20 Gemma Davison
Manager:
Vic Akers
GK1 Gemma Fay
RB5 Mel Cook 52'
CB14 Natalie Haigh 26'
CB10 Lucy Ward
LB17 Alex Culvin
RM7 Nicole Emmanuel 65'
CM6 Natalie Preston (c) 85'
LM4 Karen Burke
RW12 Jessica Clarke
CF9 Karen Walker 85'
LW8 Sue Smith
Substitutes:
MF18 Sophie Walton 52'
FW11 Sarah Owen 85'
FW16 Tania Panesar 85'
DF3 Julie Grundy
DF15 Sophie Clough
Manager:
Julie Chipchase

Player of the match

Match officials[14]

  • Assistant Referees:
    • S.T. Rubery (Essex)
    • S.W. Tincknell (Hertfordshire)
  • Fourth Official: P.N. Gibbs (Birmingham)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Five named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

References
  1. Etoe, Catherine (2 May 2006). "Arsenal capture a third Double". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  2. "01/05/2006 - Leeds - Pre-season Friendly - Ladies - H". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. "Leeds United in FA Cup final!". BBC Radio Leeds. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. "Arsenal Ladies v Leeds United Ladies". BBC. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. Association, The Football. "Women's FA Cup Final history". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  6. "Arsenal Ladies in the FA Cup". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  7. "Leeds Ladies Look For Lucky Omen". The F.A. TheFA.com. 12 April 2006. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
  8. Dunn, Carrie (30 March 2021). "'No excuses for Leeds' - Lucy Ward talks career, regrets and why Whites must have women's team". Leeds Live. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  9. "Yankey delighted by Cup final win". BBC Sport. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  10. Wood, Nick (2 May 2006). "Big day turns into nightmare". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  11. "Julie rues early goal". Women's Soccer Scene. 3 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  12. Denise Terry (2 May 2006). "Arsenal 5 Leeds 0: Yankey leads march in Arsenal cup coup". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  13. "Five-star Gunners crush Leeds". Women's Soccer Scene. 2 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. Slegg, Chris; Gregory, Patricia (6 May 2021). A History of the Women's FA Cup Final. The History Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0750996594. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
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