1993 WFA Cup final

The 1993 WFA Cup final was the 23rd final of the Women's FA Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. The showpiece event was the last to be played under the auspices of the Women's Football Association (WFA) prior to their takeover by the Football Association (FA).

1993 WFA Cup final

The match programme cover
Event	1992–93 WFA Cup
Arsenal Doncaster Belles 3 0
Date	24 April 1993 (1993-04-24)
Venue	Manor Ground, Oxford
Player of the Match	Lesley Shipp
Referee	Mike Cairns (Coventry)
Attendance	3,547
← 1992 1994 →

The final was contested between Arsenal and Doncaster Belles on 24 April 1993 at the Manor Ground in Oxford, with highlights broadcast the following day on Channel 4. Arsenal won 3–0 in front of a crowd of 3,547 to clinch their first WFA Cup.^[1][2] As their men's counterpart won the 1992–93 FA Cup, Arsenal became the first club since Southampton in 1976 to win both the men's and women's FA Cup in the same season.

Match

Summary

In the first 20 minutes of the match, Gail Borman broke through Arsenal's defence on four separate occasions, but was repeatedly denied by Lesley Shipp in the Arsenal goal. Just before half-time the game swung decisively in Arsenal's favour. First Michelle Curley scored direct from a corner. Then Gillian Coultard was carried off with an injured shoulder following a collision with Debbie Bampton. Naz Ball quickly made it 2–0 by heading in Curley's cross to collect her 38th goal of the season and maintain her record of scoring in every round of the competition.^[3]

With 12 minutes remaining Paul Edmunds sent his wife Sheila Edmunds on as a substitute.^[2] But two minutes later Debbie Bampton headed Naz Ball's lob past Tracey Davidson to make the score 3–0 and secure the win for Arsenal. At full-time The FA chief executive Graham Kelly presented the trophy, remarking: "Doncaster lost because they didn't have the finishing touch". Arsenal goalkeeper Lesley Shipp was named Player of the Match.^[3]

Details

24 April 1993 (1993-04-24)

14:30 BST

Arsenal	3–0	Doncaster Belles
Curley 45' Ball 45' Bampton 80'	Report

Manor Ground, Oxford

Attendance: 3,547

Referee: Mike Cairns (Coventry)

Arsenal

Doncaster Belles

GK 1 Lesley Shipp RB 2 Kirsty Pealling SW 4 Vicky Slee  37' CB 5 Gill Wylie (c) CB 6 Sharon Barber LB 3 Michelle Curley  78' DM 7 Sian Williams DM 8 Debbie Bampton AM 10 Chris Couling FW 9 Jo Churchman FW 11 Naz Ball Substitutes: DF 12 Kelley Few  37' MF 14 Sarah Mulligan FW 15 Michelle Sneddon FW 16 Debbie Smith MF 19 Lisa Spry  78' Manager: Vic Akers

GK 1 Tracey Davidson RB 2 Julie Chipchase CB 4 Loraine Hunt  78' CB 6 Michelle Jackson LB 3 Louise Ryde RM 7 Ann Lisseman CM 8 Gillian Coultard (c)  45' CM 5 Jo Broadhurst LM 11 Jan Murray FW 9 Karen Walker FW 10 Gail Borman Substitutes: MF 12 Joy McQuiggan  45' DF 14 Lorraine Young FW 15 Sheila Edmunds  78' MF 16 Karen Skillcorn Manager: Paul Edmunds

Player of the match Lesley Shipp (Arsenal) Match officials[1] Linesmen: D. Martin (Nottingham) G. Panons (Oxford) Reserve: B.J. Brennan (Banbury)

Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Five named substitutes. Maximum of two substitutions.