Keeper Lynn in the dark over Chelsea future as she focuses on Iceland clash
THEY have reached 49 matches unbeaten in a run stretching back to March 2012, but, should Linlithgow Rose make it 50 not out by winning the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup tomorrow, they will feel like a cricketer reaching a Test Match century.
Rose, the East Region Superleague Champions will be favourites when tomorrow’s big game kicks off at Livingston’s Braidwood Motors Stadium, but, as manager Mark Bradley warns: “We can take nothing for granted in this game, although we are confident after our good run thus far.”
Because, facing them in the annual Junior showpiece will be the formidable Auchinleck Talbot, the Junior Cup specialists, are looking to extend their record number of wins in the competition to ten, in this, their third straight final.
Normally, Talbot would start as favourites, but that long unbeaten Rose run is not the sole reason for the Ayrshire giants to be in the unaccustomed position of underdogs.
If Talbot have a bogey side in the Junior Cup, it is Linlithgow: the West Lothian side ended Talbot’s winning run after they had lifted the trophy in 1986, 1987 and again in 1988 when they knocked them out, at Auchinleck, in 1989.
Talbot had never lost in six finals, when they faced Linlithgow in their seventh, in 2002, and again they had to bow before the East Region cracks. Nnow Bradley and everyone in Linlithgow, from fan and First Minister Alex Salmond down, is hoping for a third lightning strike.
“This is a rare case of the two best sides in Junior football facing each other in the final,” says Bradley, who is going for his third winner’s medal, having succeeded as a player in 2007 and as manager in 2010.
“We’ve won our league without losing a game, Talbot did likewise in their league, so we know there is nothing between the sides. It could all come down to who wants it more on the day, and I think that will be us. It would be a shame to have put together that great winning run, then lose it in the biggest game of all.
“We have great team spirit here, we have continuity and while I would never underestimate the Talbot threat, I am confident we can win tomorrow.”
The legendary Willie Knox was the last Talbot manager to go into a final with his team as underdogs, prior to the first of their unequalled three straight wins, in 1986. Now ’Bot boss Tommy Sloan, who knows the joy of being a victorious boss in 2006 and again in 2011, is facing the same task – to convince his men they can upset the odds.
“Linlithgow, on the back of their great run, will deserve to start as favourites, and there is no denying they are a very formidable side; but, I don’t think there is anything between two teams,” he says.
“We are desperate to make up for our dire display last season against Shotts, when we simply didn’t turn-up, and that is a great motivator for me and the squad. When we won in 2006, we also
the won the West Superleague, as we have again this season, without losing a game, so we know we are a good side and fear nobody.
“I fancy our desire to wipe out the disappointment of last season will carry the day, but, I am under no illusions, this will be a very close and very hard match.”
That desire to make amends is echoed by Talbot’s long-serving front man James Latta. The 28-year-old, in his ninth year with the club, lives in Auchinleck and he says: “Everyone in the village was gutted when we lost last season and we, as players, know we owe our great fans, big time – there is a quiet determination in the dressing room to make amends, even though we know it will be very hard against a very good Linlithgow side.”
The final, which kicks off at 4.05pm, will be live on BBC Alba. It should be quite a game. ICeLand LadIeS
v SCOtLand LadIeS International Challenge match Laugardalsvöllur Stadium Tonight, 6.45pm (UK time) waiting to discover whether Chelsea will keep her on following an emergency transfer from Hibs in April. The deal is due to run out after two more matches.
Two of Lynn’s current teammates, midfielder Edda Gardarsdóttir and defender Olina Vidarsdottir, are in the Iceland squad and Lynn said: “They are both very confident, experienced players.
“Edda has been captaining Chelsea and Olina plays in defence in front of me. I’ve enjoyed playing with them and they are excited about playing against Scotland.
“Iceland will be well up for this game because they’ll use it as preparation for the Euro finals in Sweden. The fact they’ve qualified shows they are a very good team, but I’m confident we’ll win.”
Lynn’s unexpected, and sudden, move to the Women’s Super League came about after Chelsea’s Welsh international ’keeper Nicola Davies, who is in the RAF, was posted to Oman. The club’s reserve goalkeeper, Carly Telford, had a broken hand but is now fit again.
Lynn has continued to train with Hibs while being flown down to England for matches and would have the option of returning to the Edinburgh club if Chelsea don’t extend the deal.
“I can’t predict what somebody else is going to decide. I can only control what I do,” she admitted. “I’ve experienced some high pressure situations since I moved to Chelsea and I think I’ve become a better ’keeper. I’d say they have been happy with the way I’ve performed but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Lynn has won just nine caps despite making her debut in 2010 and getting her first start in a 2-0 win over England the following year. She has been understudy to Scotland’s most experienced player, Gemma Fay.
The Celtic captain, who is four years older, has played a record 156 times for her country and Lynn said: “I have to look up to someone who has so much experience and has been dedicated to the game for a very long time. It gives me hope that I will get the chance to play for Scotland for as long as she has.”
Scotland’ were dealt a blow when PFA women’s player of the year Kim Little didn’t fly out to Reykjavik after playing a full 90 minutes, and scoring a goal, in Arsenal’s 3-2 away win over Bristol Academy on Thursday night. Coach Anna Signeul said she had agreed to rest her star player. Hibs under-19 internationalist Caroline Weir has replaced her.
The Scots are hoping to extend a four-match unbeaten run which comprises wins over Holland, Italy and Wales, plus a draw with England.
The teams drew pielow last year.
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