Yankey delighted by Cup final win

Yankey celebrates with the trophy

Arsenal winger Rachel Yankey hailed her team-mates after the Gunners strolled past Leeds 5-0 in the FA Cup final.

Yankey scored one and made two in a fine display and she said: "This is just great and credit goes to the whole side - it was a real team effort.

"We knew that if we could come out and get at them early we would reap the benefits - and that's what we did."

On her first-half free-kick, the 26-year-old added: "To be honest, I meant to cross it!"

Fellow goalscorer Kelly Smith, playing in her first FA Cup final, said: "I was nervous at the start but what an occasion. To be playing in front of a big crowd and playing the beautiful game, it was fantastic.

"And to top it off with my first FA Cup winner's medal is unbelievable."

We gifted them an early goal and, when that team gets a start, that's what they do to teams Leeds veteran Karen Walker

Julie Fleeting took time out to pay tribute to Leeds, who struggled on the day.

She said: "I felt they came out and kept battling at us, even at 5-0 down. I'm sure they feel hard done by because they've done well today.

"But we were just on top of our game."

Leeds veteran Karen Walker was left to rue conceding such an early goal before confirming that the final would be her last match before her retirement.

The 46-year-old said: "We gifted them an early goal and, when that team gets a start, that's what they do to teams.

"That's how good Arsenal are. We knew that we would have to be on top form to even give them a game but as soon as they got that start there was no way back for us really.

"It's not the way I really wanted to end it but I've had a fantastic career. My head wants to keep going but my body's had enough, so it's time for me to stop, unfortunately."