Owls Look to First Competitive Game in New Season

This weekend sees the North East Regional Women's Football League begin with a first round of the cup with The Ladies team competing away from home at Premier Division side Oughtibridge, a small village North of Sheffield. Last year's Southern League winners will provide a perfect test for The Owls in their new surroundings for the new season.

With a healthy squad available for the ladies, manager Andy Mason has some decisions to make regarding team selection in the opener. The Owls manager sees the game as "an opportunity to see the standard required as well as send a message in the North East League that we're there to compete towards the top of the new division we've entered". Adding, "we've worked hard over the summer on a new shape for the team which hopefully will allow the ladies to pressure their opponents high up the pitch while still being well set defensively. We're feeling strong going forward this term and we're going all out to bring a result home from Sheffield this weekend."

Mason has at his disposal this week and large number of players with Hollie Francis taking her place as the squad's goalkeeper. Defenders fit and ready include Beth French, sisters Charley and Clodagh Summers and youngsters Eve Vickers and Saskia Rawbone, showing excellent versatility in recent weeks. Captain Naomi Hardman is a doubt following a toe injury that has lingered over the past few weeks. Midfielders Townsend and Johnson are joined by Aldrich and White, with forwards Lottie Soar, Pariss Welsh, Chloe Wilkinson, Chelsea Trott, Emma Smith. Last weekend's hat trick hero Gemma Hopkin completes the line up available, with Becky Dent, Alyssa Fussey and twin strikers Gemma and Jade Charlton away on holiday.

Anticipation around the club is higher this season, with the new surrounding at The Linden Homes Club raising spirits in the camp and an increase in numbers over the summer, The Ladies are looking forward to the new year beginning, and a victory over the weekend is rewarded with a home tie in round 2 against either highly rated Barnsley Ladies or Altofts, also competing this weekend in South Yorkshire.