Page 15 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.6 2022-23

Curzon Ashton are hoping to make an impact when they play Norton & Stockton Ancients in the
Third Round Qualifying of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on Sunday.
Newly promoted to the North West League Premier Division, Curzon have started the season
well and manager Dean O’Brien told Women’s Soccer Scene that he is eager to see them take on
higher league opponents:
“The team are looking forward to the challenge this Sunday. The Cup brings teams together that
wouldn’t normally compete against each other and also different standards. Norton & Stockton have
had a great start to their season and will be looking to progress just like ourselves.
“The draw could have been kinder to us obviously, but we are sure it will make for a great
spectacle. You have to challenge yourself and this will be the perfect chance for the girls to test
themselves against higher league opposition. We hope the stadium will be full of Blue and lots of
noise to boost the team before kick off. It is always a special occasion and it’s sure to be a great day.”
Captain Amy Smith added: “It’s always an honour to play in the FA Cup and it’s an opportunity
to progress and maybe get a chance of playing against some of the bigger teams.
“It brings people together, it brings in the community who always seem to get behind us in this
tournament which is something we want to push on with and get them down to league games as well.
It’s the best tournament in the English game, it doesn’t get better than that.”
“I’m really looking forward to our FA Cup battle this Sunday,” says midfielder Liz Ince. “I feel
like we are getting stronger as a team every week. Yes it will be a tough game, but I feel like we are
100% up for the challenge, come on girls.”
Team mate Lauren Beckford said: “I’m really excited and looking forward to playing in the FA
Cup in the stadium this weekend against a team in the National League. It’ll be a great test personally
and for us as a team, we’ve really got a great group of girls and are growing in confidence so hopefully
we’ll put on a great performance and progress into the next round.”
“I think this weekend’s FA Cup match will be a real test for us, an opposition from a league above
ourselves,” added midfielder Pip Wakefield. “It will be good to show what we as a team are all about,
there’s been a good vibe the last couple of weeks getting some great results, new faces turning up and
we’re all looking forward to hopefully progressing into the next round which we are ready for.”
The Tameside Stadium will host the tie and kick off will be at 2pm.

Tel: (0117) 9694544 Julian Barker
E-Mail: news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk Will Cheshire
Website: Colin Poultney (CollargeImages.co.uk)
www.WomensSoccerScene.co.uk GrifftersWorld Photography
Twitter:
@wssmagnews Winners of the 2006
FA National Media Award
Editors:
Neil Brown Views expressed in articles in this magazine
Mark Brown are those of the subject and not necessarily
those of Women’s Soccer Scene and its staff.
Contributors:
James Prickett (www.jamesprickett.co.uk) Issue no. 845
Patrick Higgins
Front cover photo: Hannah Cook (right) takes control for Basingstoke Town under pressure from
Alice Hill of Andover New Street (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk