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| Champions! Liverpool Ladies Retain the Cup! |
That's a lot to take in in one paragraph, isn't it? Anyway that's why I would try to break down each memorable moment of the season into different paragraphs in this overdue blog, yes, you are welcome.
The FA Cup
The stage was set for the biggest domestic cup in England and surprisingly the final consisted of the two struggling teams in the domestic league. Everton defeated Notts. County (formerly Lincoln Ladies) in their semifinal while Arsenal defeated rivals, Chelsea in theirs, which was an absolute thrill. After 18 months in charge, Arsenal Ladies manager, Shelley Kerr, suggested it was time to step down, and was hoping she could end her managerial run on a high, apparently, she succeeded.
Kelly Smith scored a brilliant freekick early in the game and new comer, Yukari Kinga, a world cup winner with Japan, put the game to bed in the second half at the 61st minute.
Arsenal won their 13th FA Cup title and their 41st major trophy, posing as -still- the most successful women's club side in England.
Want to relive the final? Highlights here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBLtw3XhD1Q
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| 'There's Always A Next Season Eni': City striker, Toni Duggan tries to cheer up Chelsea's Eniola Aluko |
You could tell this was going to be an exciting season of English football from the onset, maybe it was because of the BT Sport coverage, maybe it was something else, whatever it was it was worth it in the end, no one could have predicted a finish like that.
Long story short, the title could have gone to three different sides on the last day, Chelsea just needed a win to put any doubts of claiming the league, Birmingham needed a win and a Chelsea slip up while Liverpool needed a decent win and both Birmingham and Chelsea to slip, which looked a long shot but...well, like we say "that's football."
In the space of 90 minutes in the Chelsea/Man.City game, Man.City were without their first choice goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley and club captain, Stephanie Houghton. The game looked like one Chelsea should have had no problems with due to their starting eleven, but then, early in the game, Chelsea's first choice goalkeeper, Marie Hourihan, suffered a shoulder injury and Chelsea's second choice, wasn't around so up stepped, Rebecca Bull the third choice, and within a matter of moments, Man.City were in front.
Jill Scott's tame effort from over 20 yards somehow got past the debutant in goal and Chelsea could sense this wasn't the day.
Meanwhile, Birmingham were 2-0 down to Notts. County and had a mountain to climb if they were to relish any hopes of winning the title, while Liverpool were still being held 0-0 by Bristol Academy at Merseyside.
Later on before half time, Chelsea conceded another goal and this time it was an absolute beauty from Toni Duggan, the English striker struck an insane volley into the top corner of the Chelsea net and the title looked like it was out of their hands now, all they could do was depend on results else where or get back into the game.
At the Notts. County/Birmingham game, Karen Carney had pulled one back for the blues and had a chance to level the fixture from the penalty spot, but the striker who had been previously prolific from 16 yards couldn't get the ball past the Notts. County kepper, Carly Telford, who made a sequence of two brilliant saves to keep the score line at County 2, Birmingham 1.
With everything falling in perfect place for Liverpool, the game changer finally occurred, last season's top scorer, Natasha Dowie, scored against Bristol Academy and the Reds were suddenly in first place on goal difference!
Chelsea pulled one back late in the game with less than 20 minutes through defender, Gilly Flaherty, and a Man.City player got sent off, so the comeback was absolutely on! Meanwhile Birmingham finally got their equalizer, Carney the source once again and then any goal from either Chelsea or Birmingham could have displaced Liverpool in first, who looked to be absolutely running away with it scoring 3 past Bristol.
So that's how it finished, there was no late drama unlike the week before the finale, Chelsea players and fans looked absolutely gutted, while Liverpool Ladies were overjoyed in triumph, Birmingham, also distraught.
One of the greatest endings I've ever witnessed and for sure one of the best ever endings in any women's league.
The top scorer in the league was Birmingham's Karen Carney, she managed 8 goals, Notts. County's Jessica Clarke in second with 6 and a host of players tied on 5.
To have a taste of the quality in the FAWSL 1 here are the goals of the season here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJkOdKY4qQ&index=4&list=PLH4hJ2GPUXQVEQgwvHm_1k5Tr5N0e6IpF
The FA Continental Cup
After playing a huge part in the FAWSL decider, Man.City Ladies pulled off another impressive victory, this time against Arsenal Ladies, who now had a new manager -Pedro Losa-. Though Arsenal had most of the game under control but Man.City's Isobel 'Izzy' Christiansen put the team ahead in the second half and that was how the scoreline ended, 1-0 Man.City.
City with their first title win as they just got formed and they ended Arsenal's dominance in the Continental Cup, the Gunners had won every Conti Cup since it's existence in 2011.
Highlights of the historic night here! -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AOaHesn_g0&list=PLH4hJ2GPUXQVEQgwvHm_1k5Tr5N0e6IpF&index=5
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| 'Up Up and Away!' Sunderland Ladies, Champions and Promoted to the FAWSL1 |
This league just started as the next division before the FAWSL 1, it was a good tough season all round with 10 teams in it. Sunderland Ladies won the league and gained qualification into the top flight but it was no easy task though as Donny Belles, who eventually ended up second, really gave them a run for the prize until the last day.
Reading Ladies striker, Fran Kirby finished as the top scorer in the league with 24 goals and made a huge impression for the league as a whole as she gained call ups into the English squad due to her amazing performances. Winners, Sunderland, had England U-20, Beth Mead, who was second on the goal scoring tally with 13 and Reading's Lauren Bruton, Yeovil's Sarah Wiltshire and England legend, Sue Smith of the Donny Belles all tied on 11 goals.
Watch Sunderland's match and league title win here! -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z50sLTROBIs&index=2&list=PLH4hJ2GPUXQVEQgwvHm_1k5Tr5N0e6IpF
Summary
It was a great season in England as a whole and probably it's due to BT Sport's coverage of lots of the games and even a review show to round up the week, absolutely spectacular and no doubt every player, staff and official involved would want to build up on this for the next season, question is, how could you possible build up on this?
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