SUNDERLAND women's football team restored some pride in North-East football this afternoon when they produced a battling performance in the FA Cup final.

Sunderland went down 2-1 to the favourites from London.

Goals from Katie Chapman and Kim Little added to Arsenal boss Vic Akers' long list of achievements, highlighted by their European and domestic quadruple in 2006-07.

While only one goal separated the teams on paper, the margin of victory could have been much greater as Arsenal dominated the game throughout.

Suzanne Grant was guilty of squandering several chances and on another day might have had a hat-trick.

In only the fourth minute, she ran into the area to hit a side-footed shot that slid just wide of the right-hand post.

After a rare Sunderland attack ended with a weak Jordan Nobbs' shot, Grant was back on the attack and did a better job of testing Helen Alderson, who let the ball slip under her body before Lucy Bronze hacked it off the line.

The goalkeeper was at fault for the first Arsenal goal as she spilt Gemma Davison's shot straight into the path of Chapman for an easy finish.

Grant then missed another chance as Little's pass found her all alone, but a rushed shot went wide.

The second half was slow to get started, and the flow of the game was not helped with Sophie Williams suffering a very nasty injury - reportedly suffering a seizure on the pitch - just before the hour mark.

The game was held up for more than five minutes, but Arsenal resumed their dominance once it did get going again, with Ciara Grant sending a good chance wide after Alderson only half-cleared a corner.

Alderson kept out late efforts from Karen Ludlow and Gilly Flaherty, but Little settled it in injury time, bringing down a long ball before a neat turn and finish.

Kelly McDougall got a consolation for Sunderland with last kick of the game, but it was too little, too late.

Akers can add a 31st honour in his final game before turning full time to his first-team kit man duties, as Arsenal go head to head with title rivals Everton next week.

The FA Womens Cup sponsored by E.ON Final

Arsenal Ladies (1) 2 Sunderland Ladies (0) 1 Arsenal Ladies: Byrne, Bassett (White 90), Ludlow, Flaherty, Fahey, Little, Chapman, Ciara Grant, Yankey, Suzanne Grant (Lander 58), Davison (Ross 82). Subs Not Used: Spencer, Pond. Goals: Chapman 32, Little 90.

Sunderland Ladies: Alderson, Bronze, Halliday, Bannon, Greenwell, McDougall, Staniforth, Stokes, Nobbs, Williams (Devine 58), Natalie Gutteridge (Danby 84). Subs Not Used: Laws, OBrien, Holmes.

Booked: Greenwell. Goals: McDougall 90. Att: 23,291 Ref: Sasa Ihringova (England).