Fulham Ladies completed the first part of a possible trophy hat trick on Sunday when they beat Birmingham City 7-1 in the final of the AXA Premier League Cup, writes Jo Halpin.
Katie Chapman (two) Margunn Haugenes (two), Deena Rahman, Marianne Pettersen and an own goal accounted for Fulhams tally, while Eni Aluko the youngest player on the pitch at just 15 years old replied for a gallant Birmingham side.
But it really was a case of women against girls in a match staged at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park stadium in front of a dis-appointing crowd of 1,500.
National League Northern Division leaders Birmingham with an average age of just 18 were physically and technically no match for Fulham, whose international-packed squad were crowned Southern Division champions last Wednesday.
But good goalkeeping by the Midlanders' Mel Ramsdale and poor finishing by Fulham meant the score was only 2-0 at half time, and had Marcus Bignot's team held out a bit longer after scoring in the second half, the final result might have been closer.
However, within a minute, Birmingham captain Laura Bassett under pressure from Pettersen was unfortunate to divert Rachel Yankey's left wing cross into her own net and, from then on, Fulham turned the screw on their opponents.
Fulham's chairman Mohammed Al Fayed was in High Wycombe to see captain Pettersen lift the cup and afterwards manager Gaute Haugenes said: "It is the first time we have entered this competition and to win it is a big thing for us.
"It is our first big trophy and an historic moment for us."
Birmingham manager and QPR professional Bignot said: "While we have a professional outfit competing in an amateur league we will con-tinue to have a non spectacle.
"But all credit to Fulham they can only play what is put in front of them."
Fulham have the chance to win a second trophy on Wednesday night (April 17) when they play Premier Division champions-elect Arsenal in the final of the London County Cup.
The game is being played at Dulwich Hamlet FCs ground and kick off is at 7.30pm.
April 12, 2002 11:30
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