Notts County winger Jess Clarke will be hoping to make it a Wembley third time lucky when the Magpies face Everton in Sunday’s FA Women’s Cup semi-final at Goodison Park, with a final at the national stadium the massive incentive.
By Tony Leighton
Clarke has missed out twice on making a Wembley appearance, first when she watched from the sidelines as a stand-by player when Team GB beat Brazil at the 2012 Olympics and then sitting on the substitutes’ bench throughout last November’s England international against Germany.
“It was frustrating in a way to be at Wembley but not be a part of the action on both of those occasions,” said Clarke, “but it was a great honour to have an involvement each time and I’ll always treasure the memories.”
Clarke now has the chance to produce some on-field memories at Wembley, which will host the Cup final on August 1st, and if Notts beat Everton it will give the winger an early birthday present as she turns 26 next Tuesday.
It will also avenge last season’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by the Toffees, who in the meanwhile have suffered relegation to the second division of the FA Women’s Super League while County are still very much a top flight club.
Jess Clarke – #RoadToCanada Contiental Tyres TV Video
Though the semi is being staged at Everton’s famous old stadium the Magpies will be favourites – but Clarke will be taking nothing for granted.
“Everton may have dropped down a division but they’re a good side,” said the winger. “Credit to them for their win against us last season, they played well that day, and at Goodison Park on Sunday they’ll be really tough opponents again.
“But we’re a really improved team this season after having the squad strengthened, and after making a decent start to the WSL season we’re feeling in very confident mood at the moment.”
Notts are building up a head of steam after losing their first WSL game to top of the table Chelsea and then drawing the following two outings. They have won their last two matches, hitting nine goals in the process.
Everton are unbeaten in WSL2, lying fourth in the table but just a single point below the promotion places. “It should be a really good semi-final between two footballing teams,” said Clarke, “especially with a Wembley final at stake.
“It would be fantastic for us players, for the supporters and the club to go to a Wembley Cup final, but we can’t afford to think any further ahead than Sunday.”
Clarke is likewise semi-final blinkered when it comes to her hopes of making the England squad for this summer’s World Cup finals in Canada.
The squad announcement takes place eight days after the Magpies meet the Toffees, but the winger insists: “My focus is totally on those 90 minutes we’ve got coming up on Sunday – only after that will I start thinking about anything else.”
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