On-fire Gunners sting Hornets

11:54pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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Arsenal Ladies 4 Watford Ladies 1

Kelly Smith and Julie Fleeting both bagged braces as rampant Arsenal Ladies romped to a resounding 4-1 win against Watford.

The Meadow Park crowd were treated to a goal-fest with the hosts stinging the Hornets to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Premier League this season.

However, Thursday night's clash wasn't all plain sailing for the defending champions. In the early stages Sian Williams' visitors started brightly and created some decent chances.

Hayley Kemp came close, firing just wide from outside the box. Watford then pounced on a sloppy back-pass by Mary Phillip, prompting keeper Emma Byrne to race out of her area and commit a reckless foul.

The Gunners stopper was booked, with some in the stands murmuring she was lucky not to see red.

Watford seemed to have their tactics spot on as they harassed Vic Akers' side and squeezed the play.

England international Smith provided the first spark for the hosts after 14 minutes, stinging Marie Hourihan's palms with a fierce drive.

This seemed to spur Arsenal on and they started to snatch a stranglehold on the game.

Fleeting missed two gilt-edged chances before notching the opener on 37 minutes.

Smith launched on a barnstorming run down the left before crossing for the Scotland striker to volley home from close range.

Just minutes later some superb skill on the edge of the box by the livewire Karen Carney nearly led to a second goal, but the visitors snuffed out the opening.

Seconds before the break Williams' side were nearly handed an equaliser on a plate.

Gunners skipper Faye White was sloppy on the ball and robbed of possession in a dangerous area, but Watford dallied and the chance was lost.

Four minutes after the interval the match was all but ended as a contest when Smith put Arsenal 2-0 up with a fabulous strike from 30 yards.

The hosts then bossed the game completely and played some considered passing football.

On 73 minutes star of the show Smith struck again from long range, but this time Hourihan was at fault as she made a hash of what should have been a routine save and palmed the ball into the net.

The Hornets did peg a goal back when Michaela Howell nodded home a corner, but almost straight from the restart Fleeting made it 4-1.

Great play by Ciara Grant gave her space to cross for the goal-getter, who chested the ball down and rammed a shot past Hourihan.

The irrepressible Smith twice came close to completing her hat-trick before she was substituted for Lizzy Wicks with ten minutes left.

Arsenal then comfortably ran down the clock to secure an emphatic win.