Match Preview

The Ladies have welcomed a number of new players in the close season, all of which have signed in time for opening fixture on Sunday, although for a variety of reasons not all of them will be available.

The forward line has been strengthened with the arrival of Nina Elsom, Emma Fletcher and Mel Hunt, whilst Emma Taylor and Siobhan Cooper can both play centre midfield or defence.

All the new arrivals have featured in our pre-season games, in which Nina Elsom got off the mark against Oadby & Wigston Ladies, Emma Fletcher was on target against Mansfield Town Ladies, and Mel Hunt found the net against Ilkeston. Other pre-season scorers were Tash Allderidge, Mandy Sherratt and Hannah Kwiatek so there were goals contributed from a number of positions, which is encouraging.

Siobhan Cooper has proved versatile, providing cover in goal in Jade’s absence against Draycott Victoria, before reverting to a defensive role in the following games. After an encouraging start on her debut against Mansfield Town, Emma Taylor was unfortunately forced off with an injury shortly before half time, but will hopefully be able to resume training in a couple of weeks.

The Ladies have had bad luck with injuries throughout last season and this has continued in pre-season with Carly Croft also injured in the game against Mansfield, suffering a fracture to her elbow after a fall, which will mean she misses the opening games of the season, whilst still missing through injury are Otty Baker, and Shanie Oliver. More positive and very welcome news on the injury front, however, has been the return of Maja Znamirowska from injury sustained at the end of last season, and the news that Jess Page and Beth Thompson have been given the go-ahead to resume training - after not playing since September and November last year respectively.

The opening game of the season is a home fixture against last seasons Division 2 Champions, Wirksworth. Both teams will want to get off to a winning start so a close and competitive game can be expected - and with a number of players absent due to holidays, work commitments or injury, the Ladies will have to be at their best to secure the points against a team that only conceded four goals in the league all last season.

The game kicks off at 1.30pm and all support will be welcome.