Oxford United are one of the most improved teams in FA WSL 2 but skipper Sahara Osborne-Ricketts admits the clash with Doncaster Rovers Belles will be their acid test.
Oxford have already surpassed their points tally from last season after losing just one of their last six games, meaning a finish in the top half of the table is very much in their sights.
Oxford United v Doncaster Rovers Belles
The FA Women's Super League with BT Sport
WSL 2
2pm, Sunday 19 July 2015
Abingdon United FC
By Charlie Talbot-Smith
A game against a high-flying Belles side is arguably their sternest challenge yet – but Oxford have overcome the odds already this season.
They emerged from table-topping Reading with a well-deserved draw and Osborne-Ricketts is confident of a similar result against Doncaster, providing they set about tidying up their record at home.
"Doncaster are a completely different proposition to who we’ve faced recently," said the defender. "They are absolutely flying at the moment and it will be a much tougher test but hopefully we can carry some momentum into the game.
"We will give it our all and then who knows what can happen on the day? We feel we can get a result.
"But of course they are favourites to finish in the top two, and to be honest they probably deserve to do so.
"But we know what we can do as a team, we know we can compete with anyone. We drew with Reading so that just goes to show.
"We have had some very mixed results at home so the aim in the second half of the season is to turn it into a fortress. We want to be hard to break down."
As for the Belles, nothing but a win will do as they look to keep pace in an increasingly intriguing battle with Reading for the FA Women’s Super League 2 with BT Sport title.
Indeed they have not dropped points since an away loss to the Royals in May but midfielder Beth England has taken note of Oxford’s recent form.
"Oxford are one of those bogey teams who don’t necessarily go out for the win but have got a habit of taking crucial points when you need them the most," she said.
"They’ve already drawn with Reading and Durham were a team like that last year for us. We should be winning quite comfortably but if they make it very hard for us, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a scrappy win or not.
"Glen (Harris) got his message across very early at the start of the season and we know what he expects from us as players, and I feel like we’ve kept to that so far."
