Arsenal were celebrating on Sunday after clinching the FA Women's Premier League Cup in a dramatic finale against Leeds United in front of a record crowd at Scunthorpe's Glanford Park.

In a week when their male counterparts lost the Carling Cup final against Chelsea in Cardiff, and were unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup in a replay at Blackburn Rovers, the girl Gunners picked up their
first trophy of the season in dramatic fashion with a last-minute knock-out blow.

A crowd of 3,688 turned out on a miserable Sunday afternoon to see captain Jayne Ludlow grab the winning goal in cruel fashion in stoppage time. With the Gunners putting more and more pressure on the Leeds
defence, Karen Carney's corner set up Ludlow to volley home from six yards out.

Arsenal are the team to beat in English women's football as they remain unbeaten in the Premier League National Division and collect trophies for fun. But revenge as well as an upset was on the cards for Leeds
following a humiliating 5-0 defeat in the FA Women's Cup at Millwall's New Den last May.

Despite outplaying their opponents in the first half, Leeds failed to make the most of their possession, and it was the Londoners who came close to breaking the deadlock as Ludlow crashed a powerful header from
a Carney corner against the Leeds bar on 12 minutes.

As Arsenal continued to attack Gemma Fay's goal, England internationals Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey combined magnificently in a move that has become a regular feature in Arsène Wenger's sides as Smith sent an exquisite ball out to Yankey on the right flank, who controlled superbly before firing wide.

Rachel McArthur was then presented with a golden opportunity to give Leeds the lead when the wet pitch hampered an Arsenal attempt to clear their lines, goalkeeper Emma Byrne failing to get much on her clearance. But McArthur's snapshot failed to threaten her goal.

After half an hour, Sue Smith went close for the Yorkshire club with a left-footed free-kick from all of 25 yards, but her effort drifted narrowly wide.

Leeds stifled the Arsenal attack throughout the first half with Sophie Walton and 17-year-old 'Player of the Match' Sophie Bradley resolute in midfield and defence.

Arsenal picked up the pace through Yankey and Carney on either flank in the second half, but Leeds refused to give in to National Division leaders. The timely introduction of Jessica Clarke gave United more pace
in attack and she almost made an immediate impact when she tried an impudent backheel to pass Anita Asante.

United then survived two huge scares in the space of two minutes with Jess Wright and Sophie Bradley being called into goal-line clearances to deny first Smith, then Carney as Arsenal rained down on the Leeds goal.

But for all Leeds' resolve, it was the Gunners who grabbed the winning goal in stoppage time to shatter Julie Chipchase's side's chances of glory.

Vic Akers is used to winning with his side of talented ladies, and believes his current squad is the best he has had. But he took time to pay tribute to Leeds' performance, saying: "We didn't get to terms to with our passing but having said that give credit to Leeds. They've gone out there and worked our socks off, they made it really difficult for us and they should be really proud of their performance. We've still got to play them twice in the
league and that will be interesting."

Leeds were desperately unlucky to leave Glanford Park with losers medals, but there can only be one winner, and the class and experience of Arsenal, in their 20th year in women's football, proved too much in the end.

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