Newly-promoted Watford travel to Maiden Castle on Sunday knowing that opponents Durham will be desperate to achieve similar successes to Leicester City last season in winning promotion to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
Durham completed the 2020/2021 season eight points behind The Foxes despite having a positive season under the leadership of Lee Sanders. A second-place finish in a highly competitive league is something that the side will want to build upon when the new season kicks-off.
The Wildcats have been able to keep hold of some key players over the course of the summer including goalscoring midfielder Beth Hepple and forward Emily Roberts whilst also bolstering their attack with Liz Ejupi arriving from London City Lionesses.
As for The Golden Girls, their campaign in the third tier was very stop-start with only eight games of the allotted 22 completed but they were able to come out on top and gain promotion after a three-year absence. An application to The Football Association for upward club movement was approved in June in order for them to progress to the FA Women’s Championship.
Watford’s head coach Clinton Lancaster will have a tough job on his hands to make sure that his team are ready for the challenge but the signings of experienced campaigners Georgia Clifford, Jenna Legg and Amber-Keegan Stobbs will definitely help any lingering doubts.
The FA Women’s Championship fixture between Durham and Watford kicks-off at 12pm on Sunday afternoon.
Article by Joe Heaton
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