Cups 2002-03

Birmingham City Ladies made County history this afternoon, by becoming the first team to win the Women's Cup three on three occasions. To make their achievement even sweeter, their triple title win also came in successive years.

Around 250 spectators were anticipating a close game, but Birmingham proved the greater threat from early on; Katy Ward and Eni Aluko making dangerous runs into the Villa penalty area.

Aluko scored the first goal in the 15th minute, with a chip over Rachel Dobbins after Katy Ward anticipated her run with a neat pass.

As equal a blow to Villa's chances came in the 24th minute when Nathanya Hicks was forced to leave the field after a clattering challenge earlier in the game, replaced by Loz Robinson.

Hicks had helped create Villa's best chance of the opening period after showing some terrific skill to take on the Birmingham midfield, then passing to Hannah Smith. Smith's shot was saved at the second attempt by Laura Watts.

The second half brought the second goal for Birmingham. Aluko again working well with Katy Ward and capitalising on a loose ball which she placed in the bottom right corner in the 59th minute.

Dobbins kept her side in with a slim chance of a comeback by pulling off some terrific saves from the Birmingham duo. However, the win - and record - was sealed for Birmingham when Katy Ward netted her reward for the entire team's effort in the 72nd minute.

A moment of madness from Ward saw her see red with just 7 minutes to go, after retaliating to a Villa challenge. However, it could not mask the celebrations when the final whistle blew and Birmingham ensured their place in the record book.

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