Arsenal Ladies . . . . 3, Tranmere Rovers Ladies . . . . . 0

IT was so near and yet so far for Tranmere Ladies, on Sunday, as they were outgunned by a classy Arsenal side.

The match, played at the Deva Stadium, Chester, gave Arsenal the cup for the fourth successive season. It was also Arsenal's 14th trophy in nine seasons.

The London side dominated the first-half but a staunch Tranmere rearguard kept them out until after the break.

Seven minutes after half-time, England international Marieanne Spacey chipped the Southerners into the lead. Within a minute, Spacey had doubled the lead, bursting past Rovers' defender Sammy Howarth to drive the ball inside the post. Fellow England international Angela Banks hit the third, her 35th of the season, in the dying minutes.

Spacey told the Tranmere Rovers website after the game: "It was a good final and I felt Tranmere played well, particularly in the first-half."