Thursday August 7, 2008; Womens’ Community Shield.

Arsenal Ladies 1 Everton Ladies 0

Arsenal: E.Byrne, A.Scott, L.Bassett, Y.Tracy, G.Flaherty, C.Grant, J.Ludlow, K.Smith (K.Little 75), K.Carney, G.Davison, R.Yankey.

Everton: R.Brown, B.Easton, L.Johnson, R.Unitt, M.Evans, F.Williams, J.Scott, E.Westwood (M.Hinnigan 81), T.Duggan (I.Christiansen 90), N.Dowie, J.Potter (K.Boyle 64).

There can be little doubt that both these sides had last seasons’ League Cup final clash fresh in their minds as they prepared for this seasons’ curtain raiser and Arsenal, surprise losers on that occasion, came out of the traps quickly as they looked to re-establish authority over their closest rivals.

Alex Scott set the tone for a typically adventurous performance at right back by storming forward on the overlap to whip over a wicked low centre that was brilliantly defended at the expense of a corner by Lindsay Johnson. Rachel Brown got herself into terrible trouble trying to deal with the corner but was baled out by a generous free kick decision in her favour. This would be the beginning of a distinctly nervous opening quarter for the England goalkeeper.

Everton quickly came to terms with Arsenal’s bright start and, with both sides employing exactly the same formations yet again, the teams began to cancel each other out.

One bright run from Rachel Yankey provided Gemma Davison with an opportunity of shooting for goal but the effort was deflected wide before Everton, on a similar break, carved out a better chance.

Natasha Dowie was far too quick for Yvonne Tracy down the right and picked out Jo Potter whose firm, low right footer forced a good save out of Emma Byrne.

The play was mainly disjointed with both sides showing a fiercely competitive edge. Service into the front players was generally poor with countless passes being overhit and when a hint of an opening came it was usually courtesy of a wayward pass from the opposition in a dangerous area.

Indeed both teams, obviously playing one touch football by instruction, were guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous areas on a regular basis. Nobody was able to take advantage of this sloppiness, however, with Dowie wasting the best opportunity with a selfish shot wide of the near post with colleagues in support.

The game was crying out for a bit of quality and when it came the provider, not surprisingly, was Kelly Smith.

Karen Carney did well to send over a decent ball to the near post from tight to the dead ball line and Smith produced a sublime touch to flick the ball beyond her marker and turn into the space in one movement. Smith could have gone for goal but the angle wasn’t great so she teed up the supporting Scott but her drive was charged down by the Everton defence.

Arsenal, and Smith in particular, began adopting a shoot on sight policy at this stage and the Everton defence deserved credit for a series of blocks, the best of which was a headed deflection by Fara Williams to deny a good effort from Smith.

Arsenal were beginning to up the tempo with half time approaching and Alex Scott was offered another shooting chance after a decent combination between Smith and Carney but sliced her effort well wide of the near post and then a complete mis-kick by Rachel Unitt, surprisingly selected at centre half, gifted Davison a sight of goal but the ever diligent Lindsay Johnson came flying in to block the shot at full stretch.

The last action of the half saw Everton break suddenly to forge a chance which should have seen them take the lead. Emily Westwood, completely unable to get into the game in the midfield role she had been handed, made her one telling contribution with a glorious low, raking pass that sliced through the Arsenal defence and left Toni Duggan racing forward. Two defenders came across to cover but Duggan wriggled through the challenges of both and was suddenly in on goal.

With only Byrne to beat, however, Duggan dragged her shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Half Time: Arsenal Ladies 0 Everton Ladies 0

The goalmouth action in the second half became even more sporadic as the chess game continued. Arsenal, more aggressive and committed in their attacking, continued to carry an occasional threat whereas Emma Byrne became a virtual spectator as the game wore on.

Kelly Smith remained at the heart of most of the attacking action. She shot over after another wayward pass presented her with possession 25 yards from goal and was then stopped in her tracks by a cynical Jo Potter foul, the Everton player picking up a merited yellow card for her naughty challenge.

The other player who was consistently trying to make something happen was the right back Alex Scott who came forward to create the clearest chance of the night when her driven centre picked out the run of Jayne Ludlow perfectly. Ludlow, normally so lethal in the air, was disgusted with herself when she got her header all wrong and the ball lobbed harmlessly wide.

Arsenal continued to press for the elusive opening goal and it took a super save from Brown to deny them when Davison showed good pace down the right before squaring a low ball into Karen Carney who thought she had scored with her instant shot. Brown, however, came flying off her line, made herself as big as possible and managed to deflect the ball behind.

When Brown was next called into action the luck deserted her, however. Initially she reacted well to beat Davison to a through ball but could not hold on and then made the mistake of scrambling outside her area after the loose ball which ran instead to Smith who had no hesitation in clipping it back into the unguarded net from around 25 yards out.

Smith, who had been suffering with cramp, departed soon afterwards with Kim Little entering the fray but there was little suggestion that Everton would be able to respond to her goal.

Davison, a clever player who did her long term prospects no harm with this display, again broke away from the Everton defence before picking out a colleague, this time Yankey, but the resulting volley was scuffed and presented no danger to Rachel Brown. Next it was Little benefiting from astute play by Davison and her shot was on target but was well dealt with, low down, by Brown.

Four minutes were added on at the end of normal time but it was around seventy minutes since Emma Byrne had been called into action so Arsenal did not appear to have to worry unduly and so it proved as injury time passed without incident.

Winning the Community Shield scarcely represents adequate compensation to Arsenal for their League Cup defeat but it certainly offers a timely morale booster ahead of what promises to be their most difficult season for some time. As for Everton they know they are capable of challenging for honours again but they have been reminded once again, if this was necessary, just how difficult it is to get the better of their big rival.

Full Time: Arsenal Ladies 1 Everton Ladies 0

Star Player: Alex Scott

Scott is a player who is never satisfied simply doing her designated job and was continually bombing forward from right back trying to make something happen in a game where most players were content just cancelling out their immediate opponent.