By AD
June 12 2011

In a match that appeared to have come straight from the script of Carry On Scoring, the Women’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Bristol was played out at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday in front of just under 14,000 fans.

The stupid layout of the TV gantry was again exposed pre-match, with the corporate section as usual being rather empty and making it look like no-one was there, and the X-factor singer and teams lining up with their backs to the camera. 

Bristol, by far and away the underdogs, had the first real chance after a minute, as a header dropped just the wrong side of the post as the Arsenal keeper flapped  at a corner. 

Arsenal soon got into their stride though, with Scotland international Julie Fleeting putting an overhead kick just over the bar a couple of minutes later, and were in control by the time they took the lead on 18 minutes, with another Scotland international, Kim Little, picking up a poor clearance 25 yards out, beating three challenges on a run into the area before shooting low into the left hand corner of the net as the keeper dived the wrong way. 

On the half hour Fleeting almost made the most of another defensive error as the Bristol centre half missed a long ball forward, but her lobbed shot hit the bar. The ball only reached the left wing where a cross into the centre was headed back across goal by White, but the Bristol keeper Chamberlain scrambled it clear for a corner. 

This proved a temporary respite however, as Fleeting stole in front of her marker from the corner and powered a header past the helpless keeper from six yards out. 

Arsenal came out of the blocks quickly in the second half to try and nullify any attempts by Bristol to get back in the game, with another Little shot well-saved after a pacy run and cross by Rachel Yankee on the left. 

Bristol showed grit and determination, but were lacking up top and were being squeezed (sorry, I had to get one in), but almost got a foothold in the game just after the hour, when a free-kick from just outside the penalty area dipped over the wall but hit the bar. 

Chances were few and far between in the latter stages, with Bristol tiring and Arsenal content to control possession, with Little having a point blank volley from another Yankee cross very well saved by Chamberlain’s legs with ten minutes to go the last meaningful chance. 

Although the quality was lacking at times, with some of the control and crossing letting them down, the ladies put on a reasonably entertaining show, with Arsenal deserving lifting the Cup (with their backs to the camera naturally).