Sunday 21st August 2005
Arsenal Ladies 4  Leeds United Ladies 3
 
With five of England's Euro squad in the Arsenal team, and all the rest of the Arsenal players Internationals it looked like there would be one clear favourite but it was Leeds who should have taken all three points from Champions Arsenal.

Leeds were dominating the game and were 2-0 in front on 65 minutes, but then a mad twenty minute spell when poor defending and lack of concentration allowed Arsenal to come back into the game scoring 3 quick goals , Leeds then pulled one back with a Lucy Ward headed goal, it looked like it was going to be a point each before Arsenal's young striker Leanne Sanderson latched onto a loose ball in the area to gain all three points for a relieved Arsenal team with minutes to go.
 
Leeds started brightly with youngster Jess Clarke testing the full back in the opening minutes. Former England Captain Kaz Walker won a free kick after a determined run on the edge of the box.  Leeds Captain Nat Preston, stepped up and forced the keeper to parry the powerful shot, Young Leeds defender Sophie Clough was first to react and placed the ball past the defender into the net to put Leeds into a deserved lead on 7 minutes.

 Leeds should have been further in front when a Sue Smith corner found Nat Preston, whose glancing header forced the keeper into a diving save.  Leeds continued to press Arsenal back, a mazy Sue Smith run ended in a shot that the Arsenal keeper Byrne could only push onto the cross bar for another corner. 

Midfielders, Karen Burke and Nat Preston were a constant menace to the all International Arsenal midfield line up.  A defence splitting through ball by Burke found Walker on the edge of the area whose shot narrowly went wide.

Arsenal then hit Leeds on the counter attack when Julie Fleeting forced her International team mate into a diving save which Leeds then cleared.  The resulting corner saw Leeds lose their goal scorer and defender Sophie Clough after landing awkwardly from a header and took no further part in the game.16 year old Natalie Haigh replaced her.

Another Leeds chance went missing when Lucy Ward out paced the Arsenal defence running into the box with only the keeper to beat but her shot was saved by the keeper.  Another Leeds corner was half cleared to Walker on the edge of the area who volleyed straight back forcing the keeper into another good save. Yet another Leeds chance when Sue Smith's free kick was tipped over by the keeper.  Another good Sue Smith cross allowed a  glorious chance as defender Mel Cook was totally unmarked at the far post but she couldn't keep her header on target.

Arsenal came out in  the second half a more determined side and forced  three successive corners an early chance flashed inches wide.  Another corner forced Gemma Fay into an acrobatic save from Julie Fleeting's shot.  Leeds rode the early pressure and got back into the game a penetrating run from Sue Smith down the right beat the full back, cut inside to place a deep cross which beat the keeper and the England Captain could only put the ball into her own net to put push Leeds 2 in front.

Leeds continued to pressure Nicole Emmanuel worked tirelessly attacking and defending down the right side having a constant dual with England International Rachael Yankey.  On 64 minutes Arsenal striker Leanne Sanderson won the ball in a  deep area and hit a thunderous shot from 30 yards high into the top of the net to claw one back for Arsenal.

Within 5 minutes Arsenal equalized when Julie Grundy's weak back pass didn't make the distance, Mel Cook tried to intervene but could only push it past the Leeds keeper into the path of substitute Gemma Davidson who rolled the ball into the empty net from 3 yards.  Leeds minutes of madness continued when Rachael McArthur put Arsenal in front after Leeds failed to clear a lose ball to put Arsenal ahead for the first time in the game.

Leeds rallied with Walker and Preston forcing saves from the Arsenal keeper.  Leeds won a corner and Lucy Ward made no mistake as she rose above everyone to head home to put Leeds level with 10 minutes remaining.  Leeds Manager Julie Chipchase brought fresh legs on with Kim Holden replacing youngster Jess Clarke.  Leeds kept pushing for the winner but were hit hard on the counter attack, When Fay was forced into  another save this time only half cleared and Leanne Sanderson got her second and the winner with only 4 minutes remaining.

Julie Chipchase comments: "I can't believe we got nothing from that game, missed chances and basic errors cost us the 3 points.  We dominated for most of the game apart from a crazy 20 minutes and now we have nothing to show for it.  Not many sides score 3 goals against Arsenal we should have gone into half time with more than one goal. We have a great belief in ourselves and a good strong team spirit, if we can just cut out some errors it could be a successful season.

We really missed Sophie Clough when she had to come off in the first half, although 16 year old  Natalie Haigh did well when she came on,  it was a lot to ask of a 16 year old  to make her League debut against Arsenal in that manner.  Nicole Emmanuel worked hard all game and gave Rachael Yankey very little time and space.  We must now take all the good points from the game and learn from our mistakes and put everything right next week at home to Everton."  

Team

1/ Gemma Fay
2/ Nicole Emmanuel
3/ Julie Grundy
4/ Sophie Clough (Natalie Haigh 14 mins)
5/ Mel Cook
6/Natalie Preston (Capt)
7/ Karen Burke
8/ Sue Smith
9/ Karen Walker
10/ Lucy Ward
11/ Jess Clarke   (Kim Holden 78mins)
Subs
12/  Cath Davies
14/  Natalie Haigh
15/ Alex Culvin
16/ Kim Holden
17/  Sarah Owen