Commonwealth Games Farce

All eyes will be on India in the coming weeks

This week revealed some shocking images from India as it prepares to host the nineteenth Commonwealth Games.

New Delhi plays host from the 3^rd–14^th October, and India 2010 has been billed as a celebration of diverse culture, traditions and heritage.

But this week’s news highlighted the difficulties facing the Indian Organising Committee as it builds up to the opening ceremony, with the footbridge collapse on Tuesday triggering a whole host of revelations.

Sky revealed a hole in the ceiling of the weightlifting hall which eventually gave way, while various media outlets have exposed the filthy state of the accommodation provided for the athletes.

Images of stained wash basins, urine-splattered bathroom floors and paw marks from wild dogs who roam around Delhi’s streets all came to light on Thursday – just hours before the first lot of English athletes were due to fly out.

Wales, having previously set a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday, seem to have been convinced by India’s efforts, and will send out their athletes tomorrow, but others are less than impressed.

Despite Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh taking control of the dire situation, the federal government have ordered the Organising Committee to hand over management of the village, the Scotland team are delaying their first party of 41.

Now William Hill is offering 5-1 odds the games will fail to go ahead as scheduled, and 2-1 that either England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will pull out.

Big names of the athletics world have already said they will not compete, further casting doubt over the credibility of this year’s games.

Great Britain’s quadruple Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy withdrew in July, admittedly sighting a clash with the European Championships which carry Olympic qualification points.

However, Sir Chris is not the only Brit to have snubbed the games.

He has been joined by 400m’s reigning Commonwealth and Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu and triple jump’s World Champion and reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Phillips Idowu in the last week.

Not to mention Jamaica’s 100m sprint-sensation Usain Bolt, above, and fellow countryman and defending 100m champion Asafa Powell.

Both speed daemons have sighted niggling injuries and a preference to get into shape ahead of next year’s World Championships in South Korea as their reasons for withdrawing.

Elsewhere, Australia’s Minister for Sport Mark Arbib claimed more could follow world discus champion Dani Samuels’ tearful withdrawal over health and security worries, while Canadian officials have described the Indian officials as ‘incompromisable’.

All in all, it has probably been the worst build-up to a games in recent history, if not of all time.

But how has it been allowed to get to this calamitous stage?

Seven years ago, The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), chose India as its nation to host the quadrennial event.

Few could blame them.

India, the second most populous country with over 1.18 billion people, has a wealth of commercial and cultural heritage.

It has as diverse a culture as you can imagine, founding four of the world’s major religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism – while Judaism, Christianity and Islam joined during the first millennium CE.

Add to this one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, The Taj Mahal (pictured), and fellow UNESCO World Heritage Site The Mahabodhi Temple, and none can argue India lays host to some of the world’s finest beauty spots.

Responsible for the direction and control of the games, the federation’s 71 nations all gave consent to India; therefore it is difficult to pass the buck.

However, once India was chosen, in the same way as when London was awarded the 2012 Olympics in 2005, the CGF passed all responsibility to the Indian Organising Committee.

The latter must take responsibility for this farce, but it does cast serious aspersions over the handing-over process.

With just nine days remaining, the fact they find themselves in this precarious position is laughable, and surely the CGF are ultimately responsible and must re-asses the handover process and their responsibility during the build up to the games.

It also begs the question: are the withdrawals solely due to the horrendous conditions at the time of writing, or because the Commonwealth Games are becoming devalued?

The irony is that in dismantling the British Empire, Britain was supposed to relinquish control over its former colonies.

It is now thirteen years since the handover of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, thus giving independence to most of the Empire’s former territories, and yet the way Britain has reacted to India’s preparations does smack a little of a parent telling their child “I told you so”.

Perhaps justifiably so, as there can be no excuses for the state of the village.

But you can be sure that if was the World Championships at stake, there would not be this spate of withdrawals from the top athletes.

The star withdrawals, and the shambles in which preparations have been allowed to develop thus far, do lend to the idea the games are in decline and one lasting remnant from the Empire.

Australia's retired marathon runner Steve Moneghetti said that Indian organizers ‘have got two days to do what's probably going to take about two weeks’.

I for one hope they get it right as, at its best, India is a spectacular setting and a fitting venue for any games.

One which, potentially, could capture the hearts of even the most cynical of critics.

Why Henson would be better off foxtrotting his way over to Adams Park

Welsh Dragon: Henson dancing to his own tune at the Millennium Stadium

This week saw the BBC reveal their line up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Among the names set to light up our Saturday evenings is Gavin Henson, Welsh rugby’s former darling who helped his nation to two Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008.

For non-rugby enthusiasts, Henson’s involvement in the dance competition will add a rare panache to a show which usually showcases former sports stars, rather than current ones.

But Henson is the poster boy of Welsh rugby – what David Beckham is to English football if you will – and, however much Becks is perceived to be a prima donna, you will not see him tiptoeing around a ballroom dancefloor anytime soon.

And nor should Henson.

Henson has come to prominence playing rugby, and playing it rather well. There are few who can combine the flair, elegance and brutality on the field as the boy from Bridgend.

Despite his club side Ospreys winning the Magners League in his absence last term, Henson's talents have been missed by both club and country since his self-imposed exile from the game some 18 months ago.

In many ways, there are similarities between Henson and Beckham. Both enjoy the spotlight, the fast cars, the good looks, and the celebrity partner (although Henson has recently split from his fiancée Charlotte Church).

There is, however, one major difference between the two.

Beckham has excelled in his sport and, despite earning millions in non-sporting endorsements, has never forgotten what put him on the map: playing football.

Golden Balls still harbours a burning desire to represent his country in the autumn of his stellar career, and revealed this week he is chomping at the bit to be involved in the LA Galaxy’s fixture with Columbus Crew this Sunday after a six-month absence to an Achilles injury.

Henson, by stark contrast, appears happy to dip in and out of the sport which gave him his name, and this disrespect for the most unforgiving of sports, at least physically, will surely come back to haunt him.

Those close to the mercurial Welshman have no doubts he still harbours hopes of donning the famous red jersey again, and representing his nation in a World Cup.

After tasting Grand Slam success twice, he has yet to appear in a World Cup after being omitted from Gareth Jenkins’ squad that performed so dismally in France in 2007.

This glaring omission from his playing CV still haunts Henson, and he still hopes to address this as New Zealand 2011 approaches.

Just how he expects to do so when he is messing around on a television show is anybody’s guess, especially when he is approaching the peek of his career.

Henson may well go on to reproduce his top form for both club and country, and point to the fact he had this break from the game. But how many have followed a similar decision?

Strictly is only on for four months, while rugby is Henson’s bread and butter.

To even be considered for Wales in 2011, he must be playing regularly for a club, which brings us nicely onto this week’s rumours that Wasps are set to sign him in January.

The move would make perfect sense. Shaun Edwards is the current head coach of the London outfit, while also juggling this role with his part-time position as the Welsh defensive coach.

Edwards knows Henson inside out, and also has a direct link to the national team and Warren Gatland should Henson turn out eye-catching displays at Adams Park.

For Henson to figure for his country in a World Cup though, he must look to eradicate this playboy image – one that has seen him appear on The Jonathan Ross Show, banned from numerous Cardiff night spots, engaged to a celebrity, and appear on the said talent show.

There is no doubting Henson has talent, I just hope he decides it is best utilised on a rugby field, rather than in a ballroom.

EFC Injury Jinx Strikes Again

    Going in for the kill: Ex-Liverpool player Neil Warnock's reckless lunge

Apparently Tottenham are suffering an injury crisis at the minute.

Michael Dawson and Jermain Defoe were today ruled out for six weeks with respective knee and ankle injuries.

Their absence leaves Tottenham in a bit of a fix and comes at the worst possible time, according to the Daily Mail (it must be true).

The gremlins at the Mail also revealed in their injury-blow-themed back page that Manchester City's latest big-money acquisition Mario Balotelli will be facing, you guessed it, six weeks out after undergoing knee surgery in Italy.

Cry me a river...

Evertonians would have chocked on their cornflakes to learn their star protégé, Jack Rodwell, will face up to THREE MONTHS on the sidelines.

The England Under 21 star has suffered ankle ligament damage after an ex-Liverpool player, Stephen Warnock, hacked him needlessly in the centre circle during Aston Villa's game with Everton last week.

Anyone who saw Dawson's horrific fall last Friday will tell you the defender is lucky not to be facing at least six months out, rather than the six-week prognosis, while City will hardly notice Balotelli's absence.

For Spurs and City, these 'injury blows' should not derail their plans for success both domestically and abroad.

Rodwell's injury, however, is the latest in a long line of lengthy lay-offs to have affected the club since Yakubu was cruelly ruled out for 10 months in November 2008.

Show me an injury crisis, and I'll show you an injury crisis.

Everton's treatment room:

Yakubu, ruptured Achilles (November 2008-September 2009, 10 months)

Mikel Arteta, ruptured cruciate knee ligament (February 2009-January 2010, 11 months)

Victor Anichebe, damaged knee cartilage (February 2009-January 2010, 11 months)

Phil Jagielka, ruptured cruciate knee ligament (April 2009-February 2010, 10 months)

Phil Neville, posterior ligament damage (September 2009-December 2009, 3 months)

Steven Pienaar, knee (September 2009-November 2009, 2 months)

Marouane Fellaini, ankle ligament damage (February 2010-August 2010, 6 months)

Dan Gosling, ruptured cruciate knee ligament (March 2010-present)

2010/11 Season: Les Be Avinu!

A new season also means a new sticker album. "Got. Got. Need..."

This time of year sees the hacks give their low-down on the campaign ahead. Almost every paper will have their guide to the season and fill it with a fact file on each club.

There'll be sections such as what the club needs, who they've bought and sold, and then the prediction.

Each year, the journos try to outdo each other. Yes, you'll have the perennial clubs mooted for the title, and no doubt there'll be numerous combinations in which the top clubs will be placed.

There'll be predictions that throw impartial views on deaf ears, as football writers look to outdo each other and be as controversial as possible.

Sam Wallace, of Sunday Supplement and Independent fame, last weekend took the Liverpool circus full circle when quizzed on his surprise package of the year. He argued with Roy Hodgson at the helm, and by securing the short-term futures of Messrs Torres and Gerrard, the Anfield club will 'surprise' us all.

I do like Wallace, but what rhubarb! How can a club of Liverpool's history, fan base and status in the English game be labelled a surprise package when they finished in second place the season before last and have won five European Cups?

More staggering still, is how quickly the Reds can go from a crisis club to a surprise package in the space of a summer; all because journalists consistently have to churn out original material.

Come the business end of the season, the usual suspects will be in the mix - but I see there being a twist.

Thanks to the World Cup (oh how shoddy it all was and how good it is to have the bread and butter of the domestic game back), I see the title race going down to the wire - with four or five teams contesting first place.

Chelsea have contrived to lose four out of their five friendlies, and it will take time for Carlo Ancelotti's charges and the remaining top sides to find their rhythm early on with so many big players only having had around 10 days of pre-season following an extended summer break.

I see Tottenham joining Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City all in the mix for the race to the summit, as the 'sky four' is well and truly dismantled. Don't be surprised to see Everton knocking around the top in February (injuries permitting), but their title push will almost certainly fade due to the sparseness of David Moyes' squad.

And the rest?

Aston Villa will unquestionably be weakened by the departure of Martin O'Neill and the impending exit of James Milner. O'Neill, depending on what source you read, had grown disillusioned with life at Villa Park, with the cash generated from Milner's potential move to City not being re-invested in the squad. Don't be surprised if they experience teething problems under the new regime and have an indifferent season.

Their city rivals Birmingham punched well above their weight last term, and manager Alex McLeish will do well to replicate their ninth-placed finish.

At risk of sloppy journalism, McLeish's men join a band of teams who, in all honestly, could finish anywhere from ninth place to seventeenth or below.

Blackburn, Bolton, West Ham, Stoke, Sunderland, and Wigan could all conceivably be sucked into a relegation battle at some stage. Conversely, a good run of form at any point could see them comfortably in mid table and have their fans dreaming (hopelessly) of a European tour.

On the subject of European tours, and Fulham had the season of their lives last time out, and every superlative under the sun has been used to describe the job Woy performed at Craven Cottage as they marched their way to the Europa League final.

Without the European 'distraction', Mark Hughes could well oversee a successful domestic performance, and who knows, with the same group of players, Hughes could mastermind an extended run in the domestic cup competitions.

Special mention must go to Mick McCarthy at Wolves, who against the odds is constructing a competitive side at Molineux, and expect them to comfortably avoid the drop and build on their 15th-placed finish.

We also see the return of the Toon Army, and the bellies who proudly adorn the sub-zero temperatures while supping on Newcastle Brown Ale. They have a new number nine, and it will be intriguing to see how Andy Carroll deals with the added responsibility. I expect Chris Hughton's side to consolidate, then kick on next year.

West Brom? Sorry Adrian, but I'll be willing to put my mortgage (if I had one) on your side returning to the Championship as you stay true to yo-yoing form.

There'll be much song and dance about Blackpool's return to the top flight after a 39-year absence, not least thanks to Ian 'Olly' Holloway's insightful, post-match analysis.

The seaside town will almost certainly become the Away Day of the season, with travelling fans desperate to make the trip to Bloomfield Road and the added tomfoolery on the Pleasure Beach and piers.

However, it will - regrettably - be a one-year stay in England's premier competition. Holloway has struggled to improve his squad in the close season, with reports suggesting League One's Huddersfield were able to outbid him for the services of Marlon Harewood.

Blackpool may even inherit the unwanted tag of 'worst ever Premier League team' from Derby (although the latter's points haul of just 11 from the 2007/08 season will be hard to beat).

Champions? Well, I won't be stepping into Alan Hansen's shoes just yet (when has he got it right anyway??). What I will say is we are in for a roller-coaster ride that will be difficult to predict with so many teams battling until the death for the Premier League crown. Over to you, White Hart Lane. Lights, camera, action.

Blow whistle on ‘Golden Generation’

End of the world: England's players after conceding the fourth goal

Pain, anguish, despair, regret. Just a few of the emotions that should have been etched across the faces of our fallen ‘heroes’ as they left the Free State Stadium on Sunday evening.

Instead, following the humiliating 4-1 reverse to arch-rivals Germany, Ledley King and Ashley Cole’s ill-advised reaction was caught on camera as they shared a joke leaving the team plane at Pilanesburg – only hours after the defeat.

Gazza’s tears of Italia ’90 both during and after the semi-final exit at the hands of Germany made him an icon to many, and demonstrated his commitment to the England cause.

Conversely, just what King and Cole found so hilarious is anyone’s guess, especially to those who forked out upwards of £7,000 to see them perform so dismally at this year’s tournament in South Africa.

Yes it was probably an opportunist snap in an otherwise sombre post-match retreat to the team hotel, but these over-paid shysters have some of the best advisers around them. With their experience (Cole has already played in three World Cups at the age of 29), they should have known better.

This episode is a mere drop in the ocean involving a group of players who by now have tested fans’ tolerance levels to the limit, and it is now time for a radical overhaul on the pitch. Immediately.

Based on their endeavours at club level, England’s current crop of under-performers have been dubbed the Golden Generation. Years down the line they may well keep this title, but mainly thanks to their bank balances.

There are calls for Fabio Capello, England’s under-pressure Italian manager, to be relieved of his duties following England’s worst-ever performance in a World Cup match and for the FA to appoint an Englishman. But Capello is not the problem, nor his nationality.

Since Italia ’90, twenty years of underperforming at major tournaments has yielded just one semi-final and three quarter-final appearances.

In recent times we have seen a vast array of characters and styles take to the England hot seat, most of them English.

Glenn Hoddle’s creative playing style was reflected in his teams, while Kevin Keegan ultimately got found out at international level for his perceived tactical naivety.

Then there was Sven who, despite relative success on the pitch, struggled off it. Scandals in his private life and the WAGS who reigned supreme in Baden Baden, England’s base for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, finally led to his downfall.

Steve McClaren’s attempt to be ‘one of the lads’ resulted in his failed campaign to qualify for Euro 2008 and the infamous ‘Wally with the brolly’ snide from the Daily Mail.

Capello has recently been criticised for his overly-strict stance in South Africa, but this approach was universally praised when he first took to the helm.

Additionally, he would have learned a great deal from this tournament ahead of qualification for Euro 2012. There was evidence towards the end of England’s doomed campaign he was adjusting his management style and showing greater leniency; affording the players the odd beer.

What this current group of players needs is a disciplined leader, and Capello must stay to oversee the short-term dismantling and renaissance of England’s national team.

Failing to progress from the group stages at Euros ’92 and 2000 - not to mention the no-show at USA '94 - are the results of an epidemic that lies at the hands of the FA and not over whether an Englishman should take over the reigns of what has been in recent times a poisoned chalice.

One of the more striking statistics from Sunday’s exit was our opponents had four players in their starting line up who guided Germany to victory in last summer’s European Under-21 Football Championship final over England. From our starting XI only James Milner, Aston Villa’s midfield powerhouse, has graduated.

Certainly food for thought for Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA’s Director of Football Development. But while questions remain over the infrastructure at grass-roots level, it is not all doom and gloom for England as we look to replace our failed generation of ‘stars’.

As mentioned, Stuart Pearce’s Under-21s finished runners-up to Germany last year, while England’s Under-17s went one better; becoming European champions for the first time when they defeated Spain 2-1 in Liechtenstein last month.

It is always difficult to predict who will make the grade from such an age group. A crumb of comfort, however, lies in the class of 1993; before this year the last England team to win an international trophy. There were some familiar faces – proving the cream can rise to the top.

Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Paul Scholes, Robbie Fowler and Nicky Butt all went onto become household names and can look back on distinguished careers. Ipswich Town's latest prodigy, Connor Wickham, should take note.

The Victory Shield, an Under-16s tournament played out by the home nations, has also borne fruit for England. Despite it consisting of only four teams, England have won the last four and seven of the past nine tournaments; the other two shared with Scotland and Wales respectively.

This suggests domestic dominance and, coupled with the showing in the European Under-17 tournament, reveals talent is creeping through.

Patience from the top managers in the Premier League is essential for the sake of the national team as it looks to rebuild ahead of Brazil 2014.

Poland and Ukraine 2012 may well come too soon for a good number of our hot prospects, but with a qualifying group consisting of Wales, Switzerland, Montenegro and Bulgaria, there should be plenty of opportunity for Capello to experiment.

Club managers must look to blood these youngsters through, and not continue to splash out on foreign recruits.

But with such high stakes involving title chases, European qualification and relegation scraps, time will tell whether they can risk such a philosophy.

In a fortnight’s time, Capello may well be given the golden handshake, reported to be in the region of £12million. But this is not necessarily the change England needs.

It is a vast overhaul in the current crop of players, and a cull in a generation that have missed the cut, and failed to live up to their billing.

England team in Brazil 2014:

Joe Hart (Manchester City, 27), Glen Johnson (Liverpool, 29), Jack Rodwell (Everton, 23), Chris Smalling (Manchester Utd, 24), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal, 24), Jack Wilshire (Arsenal, 22), James Milner (Manchester City, 28), Tom Huddlestone (Manchester Utd, 27), Adam Johnson (Manchester City, 26), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd, 28), Andy Carroll (Newcastle Utd, 25)

Why Merit Money means sweet FA to progress

Ronnie Corbett still struggles to upgrade

While munching on my croissant on Sunday morning, I was greeted with a familiar sight on the Sunday Times’ sport pages: Chelsea players celebrating yet another cup triumph.

This was an unprecedented double for the club, but Nick Harris kindly juxtaposed their achievement with a rather striking statistic – the rundown of revenue generated by each Premier League club.

Although each team is rewarded on how they perform during a season (each place in the league is worth an extra £800,424), there is a rather less-than-equal jackpot reserved for the elite.

TV rights in the top tier are not distributed evenly, and something must be done in the upper echelons of the Football Association to address this trend.

Clubs towards the bottom are having to gamble to try and make leaps forward towards the higher reaches of the league, while those at the top are being spoon fed extra revenue.

Of course football clubs should be more responsible when managing their books. As a Portsmouth butcher told me this weekend, at the end of the year, the books are weighed up and budgets made accordingly, so how the farce at Fratton Park has been allowed to take place is anyone’s guess (perhaps it is something to do with the club having four ‘owners’ in the past 12 months).

The totals demonstrate a clear correlation between the ‘Sky four’ and the mega bucks. Manchester United were top earners, despite finishing in second place to Chelsea. They came away with almost £53m in total, meaning they earned £37.8m in TV revenue to supplement the £15.2m merit payment.

By contrast, Portsmouth propped up the league, earning £800,000 for their final league standing and £31m in television rights: 31.8m overall.

It boils down to the ‘bigger’ clubs being aired more on TV. Aston Villa finished in sixth position, one place higher than Liverpool in the league, and yet were shown on television 16 times, six fewer than the Anfield club. Indeed, Tottenham finished three places higher than Liverpool, and were shown twice less.

Each Premier League club benefits from a £14.6m equal share of domestic television money and a £10.1m equal share of overseas television money. Therefore there is equality to a certain extent, and no doubt FA bigwigs will point to this.

However, the more times clubs are shown on TV, the more they benefit from “facility fees”. The Times reported Portsmouth pocketed £6.3m from such fees; a staggering £630,000 a game.

Everton, who finished just one place below Liverpool in the league, were shown 13 times – nine fewer than their Mersey rivals. Although facility fees differ from Sky to ESPN and from Premier League games to the Champions League and Europa League, Liverpool earned £13.8m in domestic facility fees alone, compared to Everton’s £8.2m.

From Stoke in eleventh place to Portsmouth, not one club in the bottom half of the league was aired more than twelve times domestically. Yes Chelsea should be rewarded financially for finishing on top of the pile, but this should be reserved to merit payments, and not carried onto other gains. The fact that Portsmouth were aired less than half as many times as any of the top six is a shocking indictment on the uneven distribution of TV revenue.

This week, yet another scandal broke in the FA with Lord Triesman having to stand down from both his positions as chairman of England’s 2018 World Cup bid and chairman of the FA.

But distribution of TV revenue is arguably the bigger scandal and, since the conception of the Premier League in 1992, has so far gone unnoticed.

If things continue the way they are, the rich will only get richer, while the poor will get left behind, sucked deeper into the red, and possibly extinction.

Everton win in FA Women's Cup Final Blockbuster

Dowie opens the scoring in a five-goal thriller at The City Ground

Mo Marley heralded a new era after watching Natasha Dowie strike an extra-time winner to secure Everton the 2010 FA Women’s Cup.

Dowie and a Faye White own goal had twice given the Toffees the lead in an enthralling cup final.

Kim Little’s penalty and Julie Fleeting scored the equalisers for the Gunners, but it was Dowie who had the last laugh in what could be a shift in power for English women’s football.

“It’s always been coming, we’ve said all along we’re good enough,” said Everton manager Marley.

“We’re used to being the under dogs, but today showed we’re capable and hopefully we’ll do it on a regular basis.

“We had to defend well as they’re the best team in the league. There were brave tackles – bodies and limbs were thrown on the line today.

“We need to prove we can do this on a regular basis, but days like today will benefit the players and they’ll hopefully get used to winning under pressure.”

Everton took the lead just after a quarter of an hour when Dowie pounced at the second attempt after Fara Williams saw her 20-yard effort saved by Emma Byrne.

Arsenal almost replied instantly when Julie Fleeting headed wide at the far post following decent wing work by Gemma Davison.

Everton should have doubled their advantage on the half-hour when Jody Handley delivered an excellent ball into Williams, but the England international flashed a header wide from six yards.

The equaliser came two minutes before the break when Rachel Unitt upended Davison following a surging run into the area, Little converting from the spot.

As the half-time whistle approached, there was still time for Everton to retake the lead.

In the second minute of injury time, Toni Duggan whipped a menacing ball in from the right and Faye White inadvertently headed into her own net while under pressure from Jill Scott.

Arsenal levelled deservedly on 54 minutes when the tricky Rachel Yankey found Fleeting unmarked on the penalty spot, and Scotland’s skipper swivelled and looped her effort over a despairing dive from Rachel Brown.

Everton were on the back foot for much of the second period, but almost went ahead with fifteen minutes remaining when Dowie cut in from the right and saw her fierce drive deflected wide by team-mate Michelle Hinnigan.

Arsenal almost grabbed the winner with a minute remaining when Yankey pick-pocketed Becky Easton on halfway to set up a two against one situation, but Little dallied, enabling Everton to recover.

Five minutes into extra time, Handley flicked it on to Dowie, but the goal-scorer failed to make decent contact with the ball in a glorious opportunity inside the six-yard box.

Two unlikely sources almost secured the cup for Arsenal, Easton blocking Gilly Flaherty before her centre-back partner White struck wide with five minutes remaining.

With a minute left, substitute Brooke Chaplen threaded Dowie through and with Byrne rushing out, Dowie chipped it over her into the back of the net for her 28th and most important goal of the season.

For Arsenal boss Laura Harvey, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

“We created a lot of chances in the second half, but we just couldn’t get the clinical finish,” she said.

“We started slowly, and we’ve learned that we can’t afford to have a sloppy first 45 minutes at this level.

“We have to pick ourselves up now as we must win the league after today’s defeat.”

STATS:
 
Arsenal LFC 2
Little (pen) 43, Fleeting 54

Everton LFC 3
Dowie 16, 119, White og 45+2

Referee: Ms Una Hong 7/10

Attendance: 17,505

Match rating 5/5

Star player: Natasha Dowie

Arsenal: (4-3-3): Byrne 6, Fahey 6, Flaherty 6, White 6, Yorston 6, Little 7, Grant 6, Beattie 6, Davison 8, Yankey 7, Fleeting 7 (Carter 70 6).

Subs not used: Spencer, Tracy, Lander, Bruton.

Everton: (4-3-3): Brown 7, Easton 7, Westwood 7, Johnson 7, Unitt 6 (Whelan 63 7), Scott 8, Williams 8, Hinnigan 6 (Chaplen 77 7), Handley 7, Duggan 7 (Evans 111 6), Dowie 9.

Subs not used: Hobbs, Culvin.