A spot in the semi-finals of the FA Continental Tyres League Cup awaited one of these capital teams, as Barclays Women’s Super League side Arsenal travelled to Princes Park to face London City Lionesses in a Valentine’s Day clash.

LCL: Moloney; Mukandi, Brougham, Joel, Scofield, Douglas, Groves, Fitzgerald, Carter, Culver, Boye-Hlorkah

ARS: Zinsberger; Catley, Wubben-Moy, Codina, McCabe, Wälti, Pelova, Little, Blackstenius, Lacasse, Foord

The opening minutes of the fixture saw Lacasse come off second best, as the Arsenal winger required treatment for what looked like a facial knock inside of a contest. The Canadian forward was back in action after a spell with the physios.

The home side saw little of the ball in possession, as the Gunners worked to consistently press the last line of the Lionesses within the opening fifteen minutes of play.

Arsenal’s first true chance of the occasion came from a free-kick in an opportunistic position in the field’s wide area. Steph Catley let the bow fly inside of the penalty area, though her Australian teammate in Caitlin Foord failed to make a true connection with her strike.

The Matildas left side link-up looked sharp in transition, as Catley and Foord once again worked the ball up the width. Catley’s cut-back saw Foord send a searching ball inside of the danger area, though Stina Blackstenius’s headed effort lacked the intended power.

It would be Katie McCabe’s turn to catalyse an attacking motion, as her whipping cross arrived at the back post with conviction. Foord once again found herself with a golden opportunity, though Grace Moloney did excellently to cover the territory and block the sliding strike.

The hosts saw their first convincing opportunity arise in the 35th minute of play, as Lotte Wubben-Moy was dispossessed on the edge of the area. Despite Danielle Carter’s best efforts at applying pressure on the Gunners last line, the home side were unable to create an opportunity inside of the area.

The visitors found their breakthrough with just seven minutes to play in the opening interval, as a set piece play from a corner saw the Gunners break the deadlock. McCabe’s corner ball arrived at the head of Blackstenius, before Lacasse added the final poking touch to send Moloney’s net rippling.

The dying minutes of play saw Arsenal given an opportunity to double their advantage, as an advancing Blackstenius was taken down in the box by a charging Moloney. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper tried to clear a poor back pass from Emma Mukandi, resulting in the Swedish forward being brought down inside of the area. The Gunners captain made no mistake from the spot, as Kim Little slotted home the second score of the evening.

The visitors registered a two goal lead heading into the break, as London City failed to look threatening on all fronts throughout the opening term.

Play was back underway in Dartford, as London City Lionesses eagerly searched to lessen the deficit as the second half commenced.

The London City Lionesses skipper tried her best to raise the tempo in the centre of the park- Lois Joel desperately searching to hold possession through the field’s spine. Her best attempts arrived with no result, the host captain immediately dispossessed within the midfield zone.

A disorganised London City defence were unable to find their footing as the visitors capitalised on another opening in their press. Beth Mead worked well to evade her defenders, as her low ball trickled through a rattled Lionesses last-line. It would be Lacasse who would devour the opportunity with intent, as the Canadian’s strike found the back of the net with assertive power to give the Gunners their third.

The visitors continued to sink their teeth in, as Frida Maanum sent a pinpoint cross inside of the area. Textbook positioning from Alessia Russo saw her run timed well, as the English striker headed the ball home to further widen the gap for the Gunners.

An exciting moment arouse in the 80th minute of play as young Arsenal talent, Vivienne Lia, was substituted on for her debut performance in red and white.

Arsenal continued to punish the hosts, as London City Lionesses failed to look threatening as the clock ran down. The final whistle blew at Princes Park, as Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal side convincingly bounce back from a disappointing fortnight.

The victory in Dartford sees Arsenal progress through to the semi-final stages of the FA Continental Tyres League Cup, as the Gunners now gear up to host Aston Villa on March 6/7th, at Meadow Park.