Yeovil Town Ladies 0-3 Arsenal Women Match Report

Arsenal Women began their search for a 15th Women’s F.A. Cup with a 3-0 triumph away from home against Yeovil Town Ladies.

Goals from Jordan Nobbs and Beth Mead followed by an own goal from the home side helped book Arsenal’s place in the 5th Round of the competition.

Despite scoring three goals, Arsenal could have added a couple more from the penalty spot but both Mead and Danielle Carter missed their first-half spot kicks.

For Yeovil they are still on the search for their first win of the season.

Arsenal’s dominant display began quite early on as three-time Olympic champion, Heather O’Reilly helped make Yeovil pay for losing the ball in midfield. The American then broke down the left before playing the ball to Nobbs who comfortably placed the ball home.

The visitors almost doubled their lead just before the 20-minute mark, but Mead could only direct her header onto the crossbar.

Minutes later, Mead had another chance to stretch the Arsenal lead but just wasn’t able to. After being taken down inside the Yeovil box she decided to take the penalty herself but placed it wide of the goal.

Unfortunately for Arsenal it would be double trouble as despite winning another penalty in the closing stages of the first-half they couldn’t convert. Nobbs was the player brought down this time and after a short stoppage to treat Yeovil’s Georgia Evans, Carter stepped up and even though her effort was on target, it was saved by Megan Walsh.

However, Arsenal did manage to get their seemingly elusive second goal just before the break as they took advantage in another turnover in possession.

After missing her two earlier opportunities, this time around Mead scored her eighth goal of the season to secure the two-goal cushion going into half-time.

Arsenal’s third goal came courtesy of a Hannah Miles own goal. The goal came just after the hour-mark after Yeovil failed to deal with a corner which then saw Miles direct the ball into her own net.

The win takes Arsenal into the 5th Round of the FA Women’s Cup where they have been given a home draw for February 18th against WSL 2 side Millwall Lionesses who won their 4th Round game 4-1 against Coventry United.

In the last meeting between the two clubs, Arsenal ran out 5-2 winners in the Continental Tyres Cup as goals from Mead, Nobbs, Carter and Lauren James secured the win.

Looking in the more immediate future though, Arsenal will now prepare to head to the Select Security Stadium where they will take on Liverpool where a win would take them a point behind the Reds. That trip will then be followed by another meeting with Yeovil at Meadow Park.