Alnwick up for cup as they welcome Leeds to St James’ Park

ALNWICK Ladies are in confident mood ahead of their SSE Women’s FA Cup second-qualifying-round clash with Leeds United this Sunday.

The match, at St James’ Park, Alnwick, kicks off at 2.00.

Alnwick go into the match buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Durham Cestria in the first qualfiying round courtesy of an own goal and a Kirsty Tang strike.

Manager Peter Hately said: “We honestly believe we have half a chance and this is not the walkover people may expect it to be.

“We know it is a challenge but we are up there with some of the best teams in the region so we hope we can keep our momentum going.”

Last season, which was their debut in the Northumberland County League, Hately’s girls not only completed a league and cup double but they reached the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup - one of only four tier-seven clubs to do so.

They overcame Washington, Redcar Town and Rotherham United en-route before eventually succumbing to Burnley.

The side was formed 18 months ago following Lowick’s disbanding.

Although results pre-season were mixed, Alnwick have had positives including a narrow reversal when opposing a strong Newcastle United Development side, Jenny Patterson with a double in a 3-2 loss.

They hope to progress again this season in the North-East Regional League Northern Division, their league campaign due to begin on September 30 at home to Cramlington United.

Captain Georgia Thompson said: “We went into that cup game with Cestria knowing they were a team higher placed than us.

“Kirstie scored a brilliant free-kick, though, and we managed to keep them at bay.

“We worked our socks off to earn that win and we were hoping for a big team in the draw and at home.

“There is nothing more we could have asked for so let’s see what we can do on Sunday.”