Jerray-Silver holds nerve

Kim Jerray-Silver gave the holders, Fulham Ladies, victory over Arsenal Ladies 3-2 on penalties in the women's Nationwide League Cup final at the County Ground, Swindon yesterday. Jerray-Silver settled the shoot-out after Arsenal had four of their spot-kicks saved by the Norway international Astrid Johannessen.

Extra time had produced no goals after the regular 90 minutes had come to a rousing climax and ended 1-1. Arsenal prolonged the match when their Republic of Ireland international, Ciara Grant, scored in the last minute to equalise only two minutes after the former Gunner Rachel Yankey looked to have sealed the game for Fulham.

Fulham had the better chances in the game and should have gone ahead as early as the fifth minute when Sanchia Duncan's side-footed volley hit the post. They might have broken the deadlock on 55 minutes when Rachel McArthur was clean through, but the Arsenal goalkeeper, Emma Byrne, saved bravely. Extra-time yielded chances for both sides, with Fulham's Margunn Haugenes and Jayne Ludlow, of Arsenal, coming close.

Arsenal looked to have kept their nerve in the shoot-out with Angela Banks and Clare Wheatley both scoring from the spot but three more misses and a goal by McArthur kept Fulham's hopes alive and, after Ellen Maggs saw her shot saved, Jerray-Silver slotted home to retain the cup.