Monday 21 March 2016

SEASON PREVIEW 2016: YEOVIL TOWN LADIES

Following Yeovil Town Ladies' Women's FA Cup defeat against Sunderland Ladies, manager Jamie Sherwood has his sights firmly on winning promotion from Women's Super League One.

A Brooke Chaplen brace enabled the Lady Black Cats to progress through to the Quarter Finals, where they will face Reading Women, leaving the Lady Glovers - as the old cliché dictates - to concentrate on the league.

Over the course of the winter, there have been a number of changes going on with Yeovil Town Ladies as they announced that they will be playing their home games in the league at Huish Park.

There have also been a number of personnel changes, as captain Natalie Haigh announced she couldn't commit to playing due to work and study commitments, Ellie Isaac decided to go travelling and vice-captain Corinne Yorston returned to her former club Bristol City Women - formerly Bristol Academy.

Travelling to Huish Park in the opposition from the Stoke Gifford Stadium were Nadia Lawrence, Hannah Short and Lauren Townsend, as Sherwood looked to fill the gaps left by their departures.

He also boosted the Lady Glovers' attacking options with the signing of England Under 19 international Atlanta Primus - daughter of former Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus - from Chelsea Ladies.

Wales international Kayleigh Green also joined from Cardiff City Ladies, who would have featured against Sunderland on Sunday had she not been cup-tied.

Following Haigh's departure, midfielder Ellie Curson was appointed as captain.

Sherwood also retained the majority of last season's squad - most notably Sarah Wiltshire and Annie Heatherson.

Their Women's Super League Two campaign gets underway on Wednesday night with a trip to Bristol City Women - who Yeovil beat in the previous round of the Women's FA Cup to set up their tie with Sunderland, who were relegated from WSL 1 last season.

The Vixens are likely to be one of the Lady Glovers' rivals in their quest for promotion, along with Everton Ladies and Aston Villa Ladies in what promises to be a very open season in WSL 2., but after the lessons which they learned from last season - as well as their new additions - Yeovil might just have something to celebrate come the end of the season next November.

Player to Watch: Ellie Curson

After joining the Lady Glovers midway through the 2014 season, Curson has grown in stature and became one of the first names on the Yeovil Town team sheet last season and, such is her standing within the squad, she was selected to succeed Natalie Haigh as captain. Recently, she received further international recognition for Wales and is set to play a major role once again for Yeovil.