Guiseley Vixens make the trip this Sunday to fifth place Leeds Ladies for the second derby of the season between the two teams.
The previous fixture saw both sides battle it out,eventually settling for a draw. This is the only game of the season where the Vixens haven’t come out with all three points so they will want to show how much they have improved since.
The Vixens sit on top of the league with 22 points, one more than second placed Chorley and they are still unbeaten in the league.
The home side are going into the game on a run of form, recently beating Crewe Alexandra and Brighouse Town.
There is good news for Guiseley as Lauren Griffiths and Hannah Hale both return to the squad but Natalie Brace is unavailable and won’t make the trip.
Goalkeeper Emma Taylor, who recently signed from Huddersfield Town, will also travel for the game.
Joint manager Glen Preston said: “We are wanting three points above anything else but on the pitch we want a performance which reflects the style of play we believe in. We want to entertain, be the hardest team to break down and be relentless.
“We will approach this the same as every other game. We will try to dominate the ball as much as possible and we will seek to give them hell with our pressing game. Our principles won’t change just because we are away. I do, however, feel the dynamics of this game could make it a fascinating spectacle, especially in terms of how Leeds might approach this game.
“They are eight points behind and I’m sure they still harbour ambitions to be in the title race and so they will probably look at this game as a must win game and thus we expect them to really come at us and be all guns blazing.”
When asked if there is any worry in the camp knowing the run of form Leeds have found themselves in Peston said:”It’s very cliché but I think form always goes out of the window in big derby games like this. They could come into it on the back of five defeats and still play like a team possessed, so for us we are mindful that Leeds are a good young team with players who can hurt us but at the same time we know what we can do.
“We have talent in our ranks and if we play to our best Leeds will have a tough game on their hands.”
This is the second derby game between the two this season and pressure could play a key part in the match.
Preston said:“We’ve had so many derby games already this season that perhaps we are starting to become accustomed to them. We have players who have masses of experience for games like this, so I feel we are all well equipped for the occasion. However, derbies are the best matches to play in they and they bring out a great intensity. We just need to make sure we have emotional control come kick-off because at the end of the day it’s the three points that matter more than anything else.”
The game is at The Genix Healthcare Stadium in Garforth and kick-off is at 2pm.
Words by Oliver Coultas.
Photo by Alex Daniel.
