Citizens claim second FA Cup title in three years

Manchester Metropolis gained their second trophy of the season with a 3-Zero conquer West Ham within the Ladies’s FA Cup last at Wembley Stadium.

The impasse was damaged on 52 minutes via Keira Walsh after she caught out goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

Fellow England worldwide Georgia Stanway’s low strike made it 2-Zero within the 81st minute and substitute Lauren Hemp added a 3rd with two minutes of regular time remaining.

It was a cushty victory ultimately for Metropolis as they gained the cup for the second time, though West Ham went near stepping into entrance within the first half when Jane Ross, enjoying towards her outdated membership, noticed her header effectively saved by Karen Bardsley.

Metropolis had already lifted the Continental League Cup this time period, and whereas they’ve fallen brief within the Ladies’s Tremendous League title race, with Arsenal being topped champions, Nick Cushing’s facet can full the season unbeaten domestically once they face the Gunners away subsequent week.

It was a wonderful achievement for the Hammers to have reached the ultimate – the primary time the membership have carried out so – with them having solely turn out to be an expert outfit final summer time.

In the early stages Nikita Parris took the ball into West Ham’s box only to be thwarted by a wonderful tackle by their captain captain Gilly Flaherty, and City had little joy in attack throughout the first half.

West Ham, meanwhile, were showing no sign of being overawed by the occasion and almost grabbed the lead just before the half-hour mark when ex-City striker Ross’ header was kept out by a superb Bardsley save.

They subsequently had a penalty shout turned down when Alisha Lehmann was tackled by Jill Scott before City threatened towards the end of the half, with Scott’s effort being blocked by Claire Rafferty and Parris curling off-target.

There was further pressure from City as the second half got under way and after Caroline Weir blazed into the stand, Walsh sent a shot wide.

Moments later, the midfielder fired City ahead, collecting the ball from Scott, cutting past Kate Longhurst and striking it from almost 30 yards out. The ball swerved and bounced on its way towards goal before beating Moorhouse, but it appeared the goalkeeper should have done better.

Moorhouse then did effectively to push a Parris strike broad earlier than Lehmann spurned a very good alternative on the different finish, sending a shot into Bardsley’s arms.

Metropolis went again on the assault and Moorhouse blocked a Weir effort with a leg and Stanway shot broad.

Stanway, the PFA Ladies’s Younger Participant of the Yr, then successfully wrapped issues up as her right-foot effort discovered the underside nook.

And Hemp subsequently made it 3-Zero as she ran on to an extended ball and guided it previous the outrushing Moorhouse in wonderful model. Hemp virtually added a second quickly after however was denied by the submit.