Photo by Jess Fawcett

Bridgwater United Women FC v Royal Wootton Bassett Town Women

This Sunday sees the long awaited return of FA Women’s Cup football to Bridgwater as the Robins prepare to welcome Wiltshire side Royal Wootton Bassett to the Ethan Berry Pavilion in Middlezoy.

Steve Perkins’ squad has made a fine start to the campaign as they sit top of the FA Women’s National League and have made progressed to the KO stage of the League Cup coming into this weekend’s lucrative cup tie.

The Robins, and their growing band of supporters will be fervently hoping that the club emulate their predecessors down the years in this competition which has seen Sherborne Ladies reach the 4th Round in 1997 before losing at Huish Park to Everton before a crowd of more than 500.

Then in 2010 as Yeovil Town Ladies, wins in the early rounds over Saltash Utd, Forest Green Rovers and Newquay brought Norwich City and they were well beaten 3-0 before the run ended at the hands of Nottingham Forest. Three years later the club reached the 5th Rd where they lost to Leeds United, and only a few years ago, were defeated to Manchester Utd and now, Bridgy Ladies have a real chance to get among the big guns once again.

The visitors, based near Swindon, ply their trade in the SW Regional League Premier Division, one step below the Robins, and have one win and two defeats from their first three league games. They have found the net five times so far, four through Megan Young who has a goal a game and they come to ‘Zoy chasing the winner’s pot of a cool £4,500 with another £7,000 available in the First Round proper.

These are undoubtedly exciting times for the club who are in exalted company at the moment with a 100% record in the league alongside the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle United, Oxford United and Leeds United while proudly standing top with dominant performances against Bristol Rovers, Maidenhead United and Ascot United, among others.

All indications show that the late summer weather is set to continue into Sunday where the lure of the FA Cup is sure to attract another excellent crowd to Middlezoy and all are welcome, ko 2pm. The ground has ample parking, the bar is open all day and the club look forward to welcoming supporters new and old to what may just be the start of another epic FA Cup run.

By Kerry Miller

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