Page 27 - Women's Soccer Scene 2020/21 Issue 1

AEK Boco are gearing up for one of the biggest games in their history on Sunday and a chance
to repeat the headlines they achieved three years ago.
Then, Boco knocked out Shanklin - members of the Premier League at the time - at the
same stage before falling to Chichester City in the next round. This weekend they take on
Larkhall Athletic and captain Sasha Ferris is hopeful they can add to their Cup run so far,
which has taken them past Downend Flyers, Paulton Rovers and Bristol Rovers.
“We’re optimistic going in to the game, we tend to thirve of being the underdogs in a
big game,” she told Women’s Soccer Scene. “I have full confidence in the squad that we will
give it our all.
“It’s been an exciting journey so far, in hand with learning to play with a new bunch
of players. We’ve probably learnt a lot about ourselves, and our capiibilites along the way,
playing the teams we’ve come up against.”
Lucy Atkinson scored the winning goal when Boco beat Shanklin and she insists there
is no pressure on the South West League team. “We’re going in as underdogs and we are going
to go and play some good football,” she said. “Just using our confidence from the success in the
last few rounds, just go out there and give it our all.
“It’s been one of our most successful runs so far, with younger girls coming up having
a massive input in our squad and making us look sharp.”
“I feel excited and a bit nervous as I’ve just came up from the Under-16s and they are
two leagues above us,” added Ellie Staples. “I’m ready.
“Everyone has worked so hard to get where we are. We work well as a team and got
the results we deserve.”

Ilminster Town have had a good start to the new season, having won all of their games so far,
and this Sunday provides the South West League side with a real opportunity to show they are
going in the right direction against the National League opposition in the shape of Poole Town.
The Somerset club have made good progress in recent seasons and are aiming to take
their first National League scalp when the sides meet at the Archie Gooch Pavilion.
Ilminster captain Sarah Miller told Women’s Soccer Scene: “‘The girls are buzzing at
the moment, we have started really well and with the new additions, coach and player wise
over the summer, there is already a real togetherness of the group. The players that have come
in have settled in quickly and we feel at the moment this is a strong group.
“We go into the Poole game off the back of a great result down at Callington last week,
it was a difficult pitch to play on and it was a battling gritty performance from the girls.
“We certainly can go into the game knowing we can put in that type of performance as
well as good footballing performances.”
The fixture will be Ilminster's third in the competition this season, a good opening day
win at Banwell, followed by Pen Mill pulling out of the competition, Ilminster then got this far
after last Sunday’s win down at Callington.
Manager Craig Stuckey added: “The girls have nothing to lose on Sunday, we can go
into the fixture confident after our start to the season but also knowing the emphasis is
probably on Poole to come here and get a result.
“We haven’t played against Poole in any format for a couple of years so I am sure both
teams have changed quite a lot in that time.
“I’m not overly looking at the opposition at the moment, it’s more about this group of
players developing and seeing what we can go and do this season. The squad is really
competitive and myself, along with the rest of the coaching staff, have some difficult decisions
to make before Sunday as all the girls will want to be involved.”
Issue no. 1 - 15 October 2020 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk