Charlton Athletic will be trying to emulate some of their heroes, says Megen Lynch, when they face Sheffield FC in the FA Women’s Premier League [FAWPL] Cup final at Nuneaton Town FC on Sunday (3pm).
By David Brenchley
The Addicks have history in the tournament, having won it twice previously and been runners up on one occasion. However, you have to go back to 2006, when an Eni Aluko brace downed Arsenal, for the last time they were victorious.
But goalkeeper Lynch is confident Charlton can etch their name onto the trophy once again as they go head-to-head with the current holders.
However, she adds, Sheffield FC will be favourites for the clash, due to their thumping 6-0 win in the previous meeting between the two sides in the FA Women’s Cup last season. That was, though, against a Charlton side decimated by injury.
“Everyone wants to win this one, I think it’s because a lot of our heroes when we were growing up won it, so we sort of want to emulate them,” said Lynch.
“I think that if we beat them we can prove that we probably are the best team in both [the FAWPL Northern and Southern] leagues but results haven’t gone for us this season.
“I think we’re slight underdogs because the last time we played them we lost 6-0 but we’re an unknown threat to them now we’ve got everyone back. It will be a very tight game but I reckon we will beat them.”
On 2015 form, though, the Addicks probably shade it, having lost only once in their 18 competitive fixtures in the calendar year – and that loss being a penalty shootout defeat to Everton in this year’s FA Cup quarter final.
Sheffield FC, meanwhile, have lost twice in that space of time, but still remain favourites to gain promotion to the FA Women’s Super League come the end of the campaign.
Lynch believes that the confidence their unbeaten run, that stretches back to November 2014, has given the team will make a big difference. And she has challenged her side to keep on proving they can challenge with the big clubs in the FAWPL.
“We’ve got huge momentum going into the game,” she added. “Everyone’s flying, we’re keeping clean sheets, we’re scoring goals – there’s not much more we can do.
“To beat Cardiff, Brighton, Coventry and Portsmouth all in the space of a couple of months, we’re proving to everyone that we are the best team [in the FAWPL].
“I just want to go through the second half of the season not getting beaten by any team in our leagues. To do that would be a massive achievement.
“I know it’s only four games left but we take it game by game because they’re four big games. If results go for us in the league, you never know!”
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