Arsenal Ladies have won their 13th FA Cup crown following a 2-0 win over Everton Ladies at Stadium mk.
The London outfit have lost three of their opening four games of the Women's Super League season, but picked up more silverware this afternoon in what was Shelley Kerr's final game in charge.
Nikita Parris had a chance inside one minute for Everton after bursting through the Arsenal defence, but her final effort was high and wide of the crossbar.
Arsenal were next to come close after 10 minutes when Rachel Yankey drove to the edge of the Everton box before striking on goal, but her effort rattled the post.
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The Gunners had another opportunity moments later when Kelly Smith found some space inside the box, but her effort curled wide of the post. Smith did not have to wait long to make amends, however, with the Arsenal captain sending her side into the lead with a curling free kick after 15 minutes.
Everton came close through Brooke Chaplen five minutes later, but she could not keep her header down in a period where Arsenal were forced to defend a number of set pieces.
Danielle Carter almost scored a spectacular goal 10 minutes before the interval, but the Arsenal forward could only fire wide of the post after dribbling past four Everton defenders.
Carter again came close on the stroke of the interval after meeting a cross from Smith, but Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis was on hand to make the save.
Arsenal threatened to double their lead in the early stages of the second period when Smith struck one from just inside the box, but her effort rattled the crossbar.
The second came just past the hour mark, however, when Smith set up Yukari Kinga, who opened her Arsenal account with a cool finish into the bottom corner.
Shinobu Ohno twice came close to adding a third as the half progressed, but Everton stopper Brown-Finnis was in inspired form.
Arsenal struck the woodwork once more in stoppage time through Emma Mitchell, but it mattered little in terms of the final result as the Gunners claimed their 13th FA Cup crown.
Matt Law
