Fulham 3-0 Charlton
Two own goals amazingly helped Fulham win the FA Cup for a second successive season and bring down the curtain on their three years as professionals by clinching the coveted treble of Nationwide WPL, NWPL Cup and FA Cup.
After striker Kristy Moore had opened the scoring with her 21st goal of the season, Charlton’s birthday girl Karen Hills – 28 today – and substitute Fara Williams both put through their own net to hand the Cottagers victory.
The Addicks had twice held the League champions to NWPL draws during the current campaign, but on the biggest day of the women’s season they ended up well beaten after making an excellent start.
They almost went ahead in the first minute, when England striker Amanda Barr sent a low 15 yard shot into the side-netting following a good run and cross by captain Casey Stoney.
The Addicks went close again in the eighth minute, striker Carmaine Walker chasing a Jo Broadhurst through-ball into the penalty area and only finding herself denied by goalkeeper Astrid Johannessen’s brave save at her feet.
It was the Cottagers who bagged the important first goal, however, and a somewhat bizarre opener it was. A Margunn Haugenes corner was met at the far post by Rachel Unitt, but the England full back’s volley was so poor that the ball flew straight back to Haugenes near the left-hand corner flag.
The Norwegian midfielder hoisted the ball back across goal and this time, Moore produced a crisp volley which flew into the back of the net.
Fulham began to take control after going ahead and they doubled their lead seven minutes before half-time with another strange goal.
From the half-way line Unitt sent a long ball into the penalty area, where Moore challenged central defender Hills and goalkeeper Pauline Cope for possession. As the players tangled and fell to the floor, the ball brushed off Hills’ shin and trickled into the empty net.
England keeper Cope was booked for dissent following the goal and four minutes later was lucky not to be picking the ball out of her net for a third time. Unitt crossed from the left and England midfielder Rachel McArthur sent a powerful header against the crossbar from six yards.
Charlton threatened a comeback after the interval, producing their best effort of the match as Walker fed a 50th minute through-ball into the penalty area for Barr to drive in a 15 yard volley which Johannessen brilliantly saved diving to her left.
The Addicks made the first substitution of the game in the 58th minute, when England midfielder Fara Williams – out recently with a back injury – replaced Alexa Hunn.
But with her first touch Williams tragically headed the final’s conclusive goal, unwittingly turning the ball into her own net from Unitt’s inswinging corner.
It was almost four in the 66th minute, when both Moore and midfielder Sanchia Duncan had close range shots blocked on the goal line following another Unitt corner.
Barr forced Johannessen into another diving save 10 minutes from time, but Charlton never looked capable of mounting the sort of fight back which had seen them reducing a 3-1 deficit to draw 3-3 at Fulham in September.
The result meant that in their three years as a professional team Fulham had been beaten only once, by Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup Final, and that manager Gaute Haugenes would be leaving the club with an unbeaten record after his two years in charge.
Haugenes, who is returning to his native Norway will be replaced by striker Marieanne Spacey as the Cottagers boss.
Charlton Athletic: Cope, Casey Stoney, Eartha Pond, Hills, Loizou, Rea, Broadhurst, Hunn, Lorton, Walker, Barr. Subs: Fara Williams, Smith, Kierans, Whitter, Susannah Abbott.
Booked: Cope.
Fulham Ladies: Johannsen, Pedersen, McArthur, Phillip, Unitt, Haugenes, Duncan, Yankey, Moore, Nwajei, Jerray-Silver. Subs: Gibbons, Smith, Spacey, Wright, Therkelsen.
Attendance: 10,389
Referee: G Cain (Merseyside).
Source nationwide