Oxford
United Ladies are preparing for the biggest game in their
history...again. After overcoming Newcastle
United in the fourth round of the FA Women's Cup, the ladies now
find themselves up against WSL side Everton in a match which could be
of crucial importance to their bid
for a place in the expanded Women's Super League next year.
More
than 700 turned out for the Newcastle game and Oxford fans are now
being urged to come out and show their support for the ladies with a
crowd topping 1,000. This would be a hugely impressive crowd for
women's football – only three WSL matches broke the 1,000 barrier
in last year's competition and to get such a figure at Oxford would
be an impressive demonstration of the level of potential interest in
the women's game here in Oxford. Of course, an unlikely Oxford
victory would also be a strong statement of intent and if the ladies
are going to do that they will need all the help they can get from a
large and supportive crowd.
That
Oxford have even reached this stage of the competition – the first
time in the club's history – is quite an achievement. Oxford, as
the lowest-ranked side still remaining in the competition, are the
only club from the Combination leagues to have reached this stage
after knocking out two sides (Charlton and Newcastle) from the
Women's Premier League.
But
this is just the latest in a series of impressive forward strides
that this side has made. They were only promoted
last season and are challenging this year for a second successive
promotion, having only been beaten twice this season in all
competitions. Anyone who saw the Newcastle game can testify that they
play attractive football and are a good side to watch and the
prospect of a remarkable cup upset should be tempting for anyone.
But
before we get too carried away with Oxford's prospects, we should
remember that we are coming up against a professional side who
finished last season as the third-best club in the whole country.
Three of the Everton players – Jill Scott, Toni Duggan and Rachel
Brown – have just returned from England duty, fresh from winning
the Cyprus Cup. Oxford have never faced a side of this quality
before and Everton are sure to be incredibly tough opponents.
Oxford
captain Sahara Osborne-Ricketts is an injury
worry, after picking up a knock in the Newcastle game. Without
her, the ladies fell to a surprise defeat
in the League Cup to Swindon but recovered in style last weekend
by dishing out a 9-0 thrashing to Keynsham Development.
This
is a match that any Oxford fan should make an effort to get to and
the ladies will need as much support as they can get. But a shock win
and an impressive crowd will send out a message to the whole of
women's football, and with the announcement of the clubs selected for
the expanded WSL due in June we could all play our part in bringing
professional women's football to Oxford.
Adult
tickets cost just £5 and are available from the ticket office before
the Chesterfield
match and also on the day. Bring as many people as you can!
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