University of Gloucestershire Women’s Football will play their first match since March 2020 as Hartpury make the short trip to Plock Court on Wednesday.
It’s set to be an exciting affair as the two local rivals go head to head in what would have been a Western 1A league fixture this season. The away side come into the game on the back of a disappointing 2019/20 season, fighting relegation for the duration of the year and finding their saving grace in the curtailment of football.
The two last met in preseason ahead of last year’s league triumph, with UOG traveling to Hartpury but coming away with a 2-1 defeat, Eve Edmondson with the goal.
Wednesday’s original opponent, Plymouth Marjon defeated Hartpury 6-1 in their last game of 2020 but dropped out, allowing the two Gloucestershire universities to go head to head once again.
It’s the first test in the club’s preparation for the hotly anticipated varsity match next month. A squad of twenty-two will take to the pitch over the course of ninety minutes to make their mark on the game and get their name onto the team sheet against Worcester.
Newly appointed manager Dene Field will be taking the helm for the first time for the friendly fixture involving his preliminary varsity Squad. Field shared his excitement for his debut in the dugout but made it clear it won’t affect his preparations:
“Yes [I’m] excited of course, matching that feeling of all the players.
“The occasion won’t change anything personally.
“I’m just looking forward to the game.”
With the game being the first in over a year, Field spoke of the importance of a match versus a challenging opponent and game time in the squad’s build up the varsity:
“Everyone knows the game is in preparation for varsity.
“The importance is on getting minutes in to build fitness and highlighting our strengths to play to and areas we need to work on. It is always nice to get a good result, but for me it’s not a necessity.
“Of course, you always want your players to be at their best, but this one game won’t make that decision (varsity squad selection). All the players know that impressing in training and games week in week out is what will give them the greatest chance of a place in the match day squad.
“Every touch of the ball from now until varsity helps players sharpness and improves preparation. Friendlies are great for this, for match fitness, and for seeing where we’re at.”
The team will be looking to pick up where they left off last season and rediscover the form that saw both sides promoted from their respective leagues, with the first team run away title winners. It would have been the perfect build up for the huge varsity match versus the University of Worcester, a game which was unable to take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Kick off is 1:30 at Plock Court with the game being played behind closed doors.