2009 FA Women's Premier League Cup final

The 2009 FA Women's Premier League Cup final was the 18th final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup, England's main women's league cup competition before it was replaced by the FA WSL Cup in 2011. Arsenal Ladies defeated Doncaster Rovers Belles 5–0 at Glanford Park, Scunthorpe.^[1][2]

Belles manager John Buckley, already without his injured Canadian top-goalscorer Liz Hansen, regretted the scheduling of the match which ruled key midfielder Precious Hamilton out with suspension. It also meant that Arsenal's Alex Scott and Kelly Smith were still available, having not yet joined Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer.^[3]

Vic Akers – in his final season as Arsenal manager – could call on Scott and Smith for a final time, but Karen Carney had already taken up her transfer to Chicago Red Stars. He was also without Faye White and Yvonne Tracy (long-term knee injuries), Julie Fleeting (pregnant), and recent signing Helen Lander, who was cup-tied having played for Watford in an earlier round. New signing from Hibernian Suzanne Grant was named as a substitute. Emma Byrne remained in goal having rejected her own transfer offer from Boston Breakers.

Akers named a 4–2–1–3 formation with Gemma Davison coming in for Carney on the right wing to start her first Cup final for Arsenal. Rachel Yankey was on the other flank, with youngster Kim Little playing behind Smith in attack. Strong midfielders Jayne Ludlow and Katie Chapman played in front of a back four in which the experience of Laura Bassett was preferred to the youthful talents of Gilly Flaherty. John Buckley aimed for containment, naming a 4–1–4–1 setup with Amy Turner sweeping in front of the back four and Rachel Williams leading the line as a makeshift centre-forward.

26 February 2009

19:00 GMT (UTC+00:00)

Arsenal Ladies	5–0	Doncaster Rovers Belles
Smith 6', 33', 58' Scott 67' S.Grant 89'	The Guardian Arsenal F.C. The FA

Glanford Park, Scunthorpe

Attendance: 2,753

Referee: Steve Rowntree

Arsenal

Doncaster Rovers Belles

GK 1 Emma Byrne RB 2 Alex Scott CB 7 Ciara Grant CB 15 Laura Bassett  81' LB 19 Niamh Fahey CM 4 Jayne Ludlow (c) CM 17 Katie Chapman AM 16 Kim Little RW 12 Gemma Davison  77' CF 8 Kelly Smith  88' LW 11 Rachel Yankey Substitutes: GK 24 Sarah Quantrill DF 5 Gilly Flaherty  81' MF 18 Natalie Ross FW 26 Lauren Bruton  88' FW 9 Suzanne Grant  77' Manager: Vic Akers

GK 1 Nicola Hobbs RB 2 Chelsea Weston CB 5 Claire Utley CB 12 Natasha Hughes LB 3 Vanessa Leat DM 6 Amy Turner RM 14 Emma Johnson  88' CM 8 Vicky Exley (c) CM 10 Vikki Stevens  77' LM 7 Emily Heckler CF 4 Rachel Williams Substitutes: GK 13 Clare Farrow DF 15 Natalie Shaw  77' DF 16 Naomi Chadwick  88' FW 17 Sarah Owen FW 9 Suzanne Davies Manager: John Buckley

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