Everton Ladies have saved their best form for the Women's FA Cup the WSL 1 teams entering the competition at the 5th round had beaten, Cardiff City Ladies (3-1 5th rd), merseyside rivals Liverpool Ladies (2-0 quarters) & Notts County Ladies (2-1 semi-final). Had lost a few of their more experienced players over the close season and were showing faith in giving their younger players the chance to shine.
Arsenal Ladies league campaign has gotten off to a terrible start with just one point secured after 4 games played, it has played some part in manager Shelley Kerr deciding to step down from her position after just 16 months in charge. Like Everton their best form has been saved for the Women's FA Cup as they beat Gillingham Ladies (2-0 5th rd), Birmingham City Ladies (2-1 quarters) & Chelsea Ladies (5-3 aet semi-final). The final would be Shelley Kerr's last match in charge. Arsenal Ladies are the current holders of the Women's FA Cup.
The venue for today's final Stadium MK home of Milton Keynes Dons FC. A very impressive stadium, a new modern build, open plan design, up to date facilties, a good layout overall, padded seats and plenty of room between them. The weather was fanastic for a cup final bright and sunny. The pitch looked a little tired and bobbly but then it was at the end of a season.
My ticket for the match was very kindly given to me by @nwgfl who look after and help promote women's and girls football in Norfolk. It was nice to see a few faces I recognised from the Norfolk leagues from some of the matches I attended over the winter.
Everton Ladies starting XI - Rachel Brown-Finnis, Vicky Jones, Lindsay Johnson, Gabrielle George, Alex Greenwood, Brooke Chaplen, Michelle Hinnigan (C), Danille Turner, Millie Turner, Kelly Jones & Nikita Parris
Arsenal Ladies starting XI - Emme Byrne, Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Niamh Fahey, Emma Mitchell, Jade Bailey, Yukari Kinga, Rachel Yankey, Shinubo Ohno, Kelly Smith (C) & Danielle Carter
It was something of a surprise Arsenal starting with Emma Byrne in goal for the final as Siobhan Chamberlain had been the goalkeeper in all of the previous rounds. With Rachel Yankey on the pitch it looked to as if Kelly Smith would be playing a little further up the pitch than she had been doing for much of the early season in support of Shinubo Ohno and Danielle Carter.
For Everton it would be important that they got the ball to striker Nikita Parris and that she didn't get isolated as the team in their blue and white kit kicked off the match against the team against Arsenal in red.
A good atomsphere inside the stadium which had filled up nicely, with clapper handed out and the England band in attendance (on the otherside of the stadium). It was Parris who had an opening early bursting down the right channel unleashes her shot early the effort wild the ball blazes over Emma Byrne's goal.
In the opening exchanges the ball is travelling rapidly from one end of the pitch to the other with both defences keeping the danger out, their is space down the right for Everton to exploit. Arsenal though are matching Everton for their tempo are winning it back. Kelly Smith recieves the ball and plays it into the run of Danielle Carter coming in from the right, Rachel Brown-Finnis has to rush out of her goal to the edge of her area to make the save diving at Carters feet to deflect the ball behind for a corner.
Everton's Kelly Jones get's to the ball out on the left of Arsenal's panalty area puts in a good cross has team mates arriving at pace, midfielder Millie Turner makes contact with the ball inside the six yard box unmarked but can't get her effort on target.
Rachel Yankey for Arsenal tees up a long range effort that comes in dangerously has Brown-Finnis beaten but cannons off the inside of the post comes out, eventually arrives at the foot of Alex Scott who puts her attempt over from outside the box.
Arsenal's attacking trio of Smith, Carter and Shinubo Ohno are causing all sorts of problems for Everton with their pace and movement. Ohno plays the ball into Smith central who from the edge of the box slides her shot wide of Brown-Finnis' goal.
Carter has the ball comes in from the right going across the D she is brought down from behind, free kick awarded. It's Kelly Smith to take and she strikes the ball superbly as it flies into the net to Brown-Finnis' left 1-0.
Everton chances are few the one player who seems to be able to get on the ball and make something happen going forwards is midfielder Brooke Chaplin, she wins a corner of Niamh Fahey. Michelle Hinnigan takes from the right comes in well Millie Turner rises to head the ball the attempt going over the bar.
Arsenal are dominating possesion and putting Everton's defence under pressure for a large spell of the game that leads to first Carter heading one cross over the bar then Niamh Fahey heading wide at the far post from a set piece.
Chaplin picks up the ball in the centre goes forwards has no options takes a shot from 25 yards on target it hasn't the power to beat Byrne as she drops to make a comfortable save.
Coming off the right flank again Carter has another run at the Everton goal let's fly a shot Brown-Finnis diving to her left is beaten the ball goes narrowly wide of the post.
Late on in the half Arsenal have a free kick on the edge of the box it is delivered dangerously Carter has an attempt from close range their is a bit of a scamble as Everton's defence tries to clear the danger Brown-Finnis managing to smother the ball before it can roll over the line.
Last chance of the half falls to Everton, they have a break on Hinnigan in the centra lofts a ball forwards attempting to find the feet of the running Kelly Jones, close as she sticks a leg out to try and devert the ball past Byrne she can't make contact and the keeper collects.
Half-time Everton Ladies 0-1 Arsenal Ladies
It's Arsenal to kick off the 2nd half. Despite their 1st half dominance there was still only a single goal in it and Everton were still very much in the tie something I'm sure their manager Andy Spence would have told his team.
It was Arsenal who started the stronger however pushing Everton back they are defending very deep putting pressure on themselves. It's Smith with a curling effort given too much space on the edge of the box the strike hitting the post comes back out to Yukari Kinga, her effort doesn't trouble Brown-Finnis.
Shinubo Ohno is doing very well up front for Arsenal winning the ball and looking to play in Smith in particular, Everton are defending well but cannot get the ball out of their half, it keeps coming back. Parris is their outlet and when she does get the ball to make a run has no support and is closed down.
The pressure tells as the ball comes ball played over the top for Smith to chase she and young Everton defender Gabrielle George tussle with each other in the box, referee Martin Atkinson waves play on, Smith finds a yard and puts in a parfect ball for the arriving Yukari Kinga to slot the ball home from just inside the box 2-0
Everton make a change taking off Vicky Jones and bringing on Billie Murphy. Does little to change the pattern of the game Arsenal come again this time with Ohno producing a fine save from Brown-Finnis as she bursts into the box with the ball and strikes.
Carter screws the ball back into the path of team mate Alex Scott she strikes the ball first time from the edge of the box but straight at Brown-Finnis. Ohno puts a further effort wide and Carter one over the bar.
Millie Turner comes off for Everton to be replaced by striker Simone Magill. For Arsenal Jade Bailey is taken off to be replaced by local girl Leah Willaimson.
A half chance for Everton a free kick from the left delivered into the area finds the head of Nikita Parris but goes wide of the goal. Last substitute for Everton Fern Whelan coming on for Danille Turner.
Arsenal continue to dominate Leah Williamson has a run across the penalty area attempts a shot cutting the ball back towards from an acute angle but it has no power Brown-Finnis gathering it up.
Late on Carter has a shot it is deflected comes out to Smith, she in turn lays it off into the path of the onrushing Emma Mitchell the left back inside the box has a go from a tight angle smashes the ball against the upright before Everton scramble it away.
Full-time and Arsenal Ladies retain the Women's FA Cup beating Everton Ladies 2-0 with a strong performance for Shelley Kerr's last match in charge. Congratulations to Arsenal Ladies. Tough on any team losing a final Everton will no doubt be disappointed by the performance never got a real foot hold in the match but can take heart and be proud of their achievement in getting to the final.
Arsenal Ladies lifting the cup and a special mention for Casey Stoney she came to Arsenal to win trophies and as an ex Lincoln Ladies supporter I am delighted for her 
The FA Girls Youth Cup Final
The Women's FA Cup Final was the 2nd game in a double header at Stadium MK today with the FA Girls Youth Cup Final taking place. Between the blues of Everton once again and their merseyside rivals the reds of Liverpool it was a fantastic occassion for the teams to showcase their skills.
Was some good football on display from two commited teams actually played at a slower tempo that the seniors game later on. Liverpool U17's should have gone into the break at the end of the 1st half with the lead had three glorious chances to score, twice through on goal with the keeper to beat but putting the effort wide then a long range strike that came back off the bar.
The 2nd half Everton sat deeper trying to soak up the Liverpool pressure looking to counter it never really worked. Liverpool looked the most likely to score and did so through Kess Elmore as she stabbed the ball home from inside the box the single goal giving Liverpool the victory, as they won the Youth Cup. Congratulations to Liverpool Ladies U17's
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