BORO LADIES can use their valiant cup defeat at the hands of double holders Arsenal as a springboard to future success, believes boss Marrie Wieczorek.

More than 600 supporters turned up for the FA Women's Cup sponsored by E.ON fourth round tie at Billingham Synthonia and they were treated to a superb game.

Boro held the mighty Gunners to a goalless first half but were finally undone by the classy Gunners' as Helen Lander's double plus goals from Kim Little and substitute Karen Carney secured a 4-0 victory.

But Marrie was impressed with the way her team coped against a star-studded Arsenal team crammed full of internationals.

"To get to 0-0 at half-time against a team of Arsenal's quality was a massive achievement for the girls," she said.

"I am really impressed with how they acquitted themselves. I knew we would tire in the second half - at the end of the day we are training twice a week and the girls at Arsenal train every day."

The outcome might have been different had Boro taken one of a flurry of a chances that fell their way at the beginning of the second half.

"Arsenal are the best team in the country but I think we could have done better if the girls had a bit more self-belief," Marrie said.

"There was a little bit of hero worship going on and I think they've got to separate themselves from that when they are playing and not stand back and admire them."

However, Marrie is convinced the experience of playing against a team of Arsenal's quality will stand the girls in good stead for the rest of the season as they target the top spot that would bring promotion.

"I hope that first-half performance will inspire the girls on to better things," she said.

"I don't believe the gulf in class between ourselves and teams like Arsenal is as great as we may have once thought it to be.

"There are a lot of positives for us to pick out from the game and Arsenal are the standard we've got to aspire to.

"It's important that we take heart from the performance and show what we can do in the League now.

"We have got to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season if we want that title."

Boro Ladies continue their Northern Combination League promotion quest when they visit West Auckland on Sunday.