Thursday 16 October 2014 23:48, UK
Isobel Christiansen’s second-half header earned Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA WSL Continental Cup final in front of a crowd of 3,697 at Adams Park in Wycombe.
Arsenal went into the game as favourites having lifted the trophy every year since the competition began in 2011, but Christiansen’s 72nd-minute strike proved decisive and secured City their first major silverware.
The Gunners took command in the early stages with Jordan Nobbs and Danielle Carter snatching early shots wide.
Arsenal missed an excellent chance to take the lead when City’s nervy defending was exposed in the 35th minute as a throw-in bounced straight into the path of Carter, but her toe-poke from six yards was saved by City keeper Karen Bardsley.
Rachel Yankey also spurned an opportunity at the end of the first half for Arsenal when she miscontrolled a lively cross from Shinobu Ohno and allowed Bardsley to gather.
City showed more promise after the break, retaining possession well before skipper Steph Houghton’s well-struck 25-yard free-kick produced a fine save from Emma Byrne in the Arsenal goal in the 66th minute.
And City took the lead with 18 minutes remaining when a fast breakaway released Johnston on the right and her inch-perfect cross was met by Christiansen who powered the ball home.
Another Houghton free-kick was then palmed onto the bar by Byrne, and Arsenal could not find a way back into the game with City resolutely holding out until the final whistle.
City manager Nick Cushing said: “I’m really proud of my players as I can see how much work we’ve put in and the good environment we’ve created off the pitch.
“Whether we win or lose the players application to training and games has been exceptional, and this is a well deserved trophy and a reward.
“We showed unbelievable endeavour to stay in the game, and then we settled down and I thought we played some good football in the second half.
“We have to be realistic and we know that winning the Continental Cup doesn’t mean you’re going to go on and win the league.
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but we’ve caused a lot of teams problems this year, and shown we’ve got a lot of potential in our side.”
Arsenal boss Pedro Martínez Losa said: “The first half was clearly in our favour but we did not take our opportunities, which can hurt you sometimes. But they are a fantastic team, and their goal was a fantastic goal.
“We made a big effort in the first half and found it hard to change the game after the goal. But I can’t ask for more from them, the team played fantastic."
