Goalkeeper Lydia Williams believes this weekend’s Round 5 clash with Adelaide United is likely to be a lot tougher than many have predicted as pouring rain lashes the Nation’s Capital.
Goalkeeper Lydia Williams believes this weekend-s Round 5 clash with Adelaide United is likely to be a lot tougher than many have predicted as pouring rain lashes the Nation-s Capital.
“It-s more than likely going to be messy football,” Williams said. “It-s going to be wet and things are going to skid on so it-s going to be a game where technique is vital for us to get a result. We need to make sure that we are on our toes the whole time as we simply don-t know what the ball is going to do.”
The Matildas international heads into the clash with bottom-of-the-table Adelaide in excellent personal form having made a string of outstanding saves to deny Melbourne Victory in Week Three before watching helpless as Maika Ruyter-Hooley headed the last-gasp equaliser.
“I think I have been playing well,” she admitted. “Obviously that is coming off playing internationals this year that I performed well in that has kept my confidence high. I-m hoping to keep my consistency up for the rest of the season.”
At the opposite end of the park will be young Kristi Harvey, deputising for injured Reds first choice custodian Sian McLaren and, with 15-year-old Brianna Davey keeping goal for Victory a fortnight ago in place of the injured Melissa Barbieri, it seems a curse has struck the Westfield W-League shot-stoppers!
“It-s something that happens from time to time with goalkeepers. We can get injured too, so it-s not uncommon!” Williams commented.
“It-s a really good stepping stone for the goalkeepers in the league to show that there are more quality ‘keepers out there. There are two good goalkeepers in each team so it-s an opportunity for them to shine and show their worth and attract Tom (Sermanni-s) attention.”
United will face Adelaide at Deakin Stadium as the club-s usual home venue, McKellar Park, undergoes refurbishment. Canberra has played at the Deakin ground before though, when Adelaide were visitors in 2009, so are fully aware of the nuances of Canberra FC-s home.
“Last time we played at Deakin Stadium we played Adelaide and beat them quite comfortably, although that won-t have a bearing on this weekend-s match! The stadium is one we are comfortable with, but with all this rain this week it will certainly make things more interesting,” She said.
“Every game is a tough game though. You can never know until the game day how you are going to perform or how the opposition might turn out. It-s just a matter of doing our own thing, preparing well and making each match as important as if we were lining up to play the USA.”
CUFC Squad: 1. Lydia Williams (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Lyndsay Glohe, 4. Michelle Heyman, 5. Kahlia Hogg, 6. Caitlin Munoz, 7. Ellie Brush, 8. Tseng Shu-O, 9. Grace Gill, 10. Emily Van Egmond, 13. Nicole Sykes, 15. Sally Shipard, 16. Ellyse Perry, 18. Grace Field, 19. Jennifer Bisset, 20. Jocelyn Mara (gk)
*one to be omitted
In: 15. Nicole Sykes (return from injury), 18. Grace Field (promoted), 19. Jennifer Bisset (promoted)
Unavailable: 11. Cian Maciejewski (shoulder), 14. Ashleigh Sykes (broken leg), 18. Leah Blayney (overseas)
Canberra United face Adelaide United in Week Five of the Westfield W-League at Deakin Stadium, Grose Street, Deakin with kick off at 5pm. Tickets are available from the gate on match day priced at $10 adults, $5 concessions with children under-12 admitted free.
