YEOVIL HAVE TO DIG DEEP TO KEEP UP STRIKE RATE
NO MATTER how many strikers Yeovil lose, their goalscoring touch never seems to go missing.
Now, Helen Bleazard believes her side can cash in on a momentous weekend in FA Women’s Super League 2.
Two promotion spots are up for grabs and four teams are making an exceptionally strong case with just three rounds to go before this weekend.
Top side Yeovil were level on points with Bristol City, but Everton and Durham, who both have one game in hand, are knocking very firmly on the door.
And the fixture list has thrown up a potentially season-defining 24 hours as Yeovil entertain Everton today after Durham travelled to Bristol yesterday.
The Lady Glovers hit a speed bump in a 3-2 defeat to London Bees last time out.
But, after losing to Everton earlier in the season, Bleazard insists her side are doubly motivated to return to form at Huish Park.
“We didn’t perform against London Bees, but we’ve had some really good sessions this week. We have done all we can to make sure we bounce back from it. We know we’ve got to put things right,” said the midfielder. “We lost to Everton, too, and alongside the London Bees game they have been our two worst performances.
“Credit to Everton. They had a gameplan to counter us and we’ve got to respect them for that – they did their homework.
“But we made mistakes that cost us goals, so we look back at it as a learning curve as we know what we can do when we are on our game.”
Yeovil’s cause has hardly been helped of late by a bizarre set of circumstances in which they have lost attackers to a multitude of reasons other than injury.
Sarah Wiltshire scored 12 goals in 14 games before announcing her pregnancy, Atlanta Primus – daughter of Portsmouth legend Linvoy – accepted a scholarship in America and Natasha Knapman, in search of game time, dual-signed for Plymouth Argyle.
But, of boss Jamie Sherwood’s emergency swoops, Lucy Quinn has immediately taken to life in Yeovil. The former Portsmouth striker has netted three times in her last two games.
Bleazard says there’s never any lack of a contingency plan with Sherwood.
“I don’t think you will find many teams can say they have lost three forwards in one season, meaning we have had to recruit again,” added 26year-old Bleazard.
“But Lucy has come in and hit the ground running and there’s no reason why she can’t continue that against Everton.
“Tasha’s been in and around the squad, but we haven’t seen her all the time as we’re sharing her, and Atlanta was a big loss as she started the season well before getting the scholarship.
“But Jamie and the board are always keen on bringing the right people in. It’s not just about signing any striker – we need the right players to fit. Atlanta was the right fit and it was unfortunate she left. Lucy has
also gelled quickly.”