Ladies 14/09/2018

Ladies: Portsmouth Preview

Watford FC Ladies will be aiming to make it four straight wins as they travel to Portsmouth FC Women in the FA WNL on Sunday.

The Golden Girls currently lie in third place and have excelled in tight games recently, winning the three previous fixtures by a 2-1 scoreline.

Portsmouth have been on the wrong end of that same score lately, losing to the current top two in Coventry United and Chichester City.

VIEWS FROM THE HEAD COACH

With the Golden Girls having scored in the final 15 minutes of every game so far and winning three tight matches on the bounce, Armand Kavaja is understandably happy with what he’s seeing from his side.

“The girls are showing great character to keep fighting and are never giving up, even if they are losing, or have just been pegged back in the game,” he told watfordfc.com. “This is a good thing to have as it shows we never give up and we always believe we can win the game.

“We’ve made it clear to the players that the game is very long and they need to fight to the end – whether that is to prevent a goal or to score one.

“The players are building up this great work ethic and desire to defend. Hopefully we can put some of the games to bed a little earlier.”

Sunday marks the end of a period which has seen the Hornets play three games in eight days, with two victories so far.

“We’re all really pleased with the results, performances and condition of the players,” explained Kavaja. “We have tried to rotate and bring fresh legs in to the team and also give one or two players a little rest.”

Portsmouth have won two and lost two so far in the league, but the Head Coach isn’t paying attention to previous form.

“Every game will be tough for us,” said Kavaja. “We just have to play what's in front of us and not what the results show and how they have got on in other games.

“Portsmouth are an established team in this league and no doubt will make it hard for any team.”

THE HOSTS

Portsmouth are one of the mainstays at this level, as they compete in the third tier for the seventh consecutive season.

They previously won the Southern Division in 2014/15, however they lost out in the play-off to the Northern Division champions, Sheffield FC.

In the following campaigns they finished 5^th and 8^th, while they ended up in 6^th place last season with 37 points from 22 games.

This time around they got off to a great start, winning their opening two league fixtures against C&K Basildon and Gillingham.

They’ve since lost their last three, albeit against the current top two in the division. Coventry United beat them 2-1 in the league, while Chichester City were victorious in the league and the cup.

One Watford player who will be familiar with this weekend’s hosts is Lauren Peck. The defender made over 35 appearances for Pompey.

LAST TIME OUT

Watford 2-1 QPR

Team: Baranowska, Hallsworth, O’Halloran, Hill, Huggins, Scanlon, Akerman (Stojko-Down, 53), Bell, Ward, Afuakwah (Carid, 46), O’Leary (Baker, 72).

Goals: Afuakwah (1), Ward (83).

Chichester City 2-1 Portsmouth

Team: Levett, Tonks, Southgate, Russell, Currie (Albuery, 62), Bradley, Rowe (Perkins, 78), Panting, James (Carter, 77), Geer, McLachlan.

Goals: McLachlan (59).

INFORMATION

Portsmouth FC Women v Watford FC

FA WNL

Sunday 16th September

2:00pm

Baffins Milton Rovers FC

PO3 5LY

£5 Adults, £2 Concessions (U18/63+)

Ladies 14/09/2018

Trust: Ward Goes Back To School

Watford FC Ladies captain Helen Ward surprised pupils when she returned to her old school this week, by joining in with one of their Premier League Primary Stars lessons delivered by Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust, helping children to get active on their return from the summer holiday break.

Ward caught the pupils off-guard when she walked into their lesson, joining Bromet Primary School’s Year 5 and 6 Falcon class, donating a Premier League Primary Stars equipment pack to the school.

The pack included footballs, numbered and lettered floor spots and giant dice, which teachers at the primary school can use in future lessons across the curriculum to help inspire children to learn and be active.

Ward said she was pleased to return and give something back to her old school.

“It is a bit strange; I feel like a bit of a giant!” said the striker. “When I was here just over 20 years ago now, everything definitely felt a lot bigger.

“It’s nice to be back, it brings back familiar memories and it’s good to see the school in such a good place and with such good children coming through.

“Football starts at a young age so for primary schools to have access to this sort of equipment and sessions that the Premier League put on and give out is fantastic. When I was younger we certainly didn’t have this sort of equipment!

“The quality of the equipment is brilliant, it’s all the stuff that can make for some really interesting and creative sessions and the children looked like they really enjoyed it today.”

The Golden Girls’ captain also joined in with an active session, taking part in one of the Premier League Primary Stars lessons with the Trust.

“There’s been plenty of smiles,” she said. “The children have been creating their own games and the pupils I got involved with were excellent, some really fair but competitive games.

“There were a couple of good girls in particular, one of them wouldn’t let me nutmeg her which was disappointing for me! But no it has been a really good and really enjoyable day.”