Argyle v Crawley Wasps FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division

ARGYLE Ladies are making an appeal for the fans to turn out in their numbers when they take on Crawley Wasps in their important FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division match at the Manadon Hub on Sunday for a 2pm kick-off.

Manager Dave Leonard said: “If we can get just half of the fan numbers that turned up at Home Park to watch us play Watford, then the girls will be pleased.”

The Pilgrims may have lost their last three matches but they are still in with a chance of a top two finish and a win against Crawley will get them back to winning ways. At the least the club will hope to exceed the gate of 245, which turned up to see Argyle beat Yeovil Town 6-1. What will please Argyle is that it will be only their third home league played this season and only their second in the last 17 weeks.

Argyle lost the opening game of the season 2-0 at Crawley in a match they felt they should have at least earned a point from and Crawley will again be difficult opponents, as they have won all four of their away matches to date, conceding just two goals.

The Greens know they weren't at their best last week when the injury-ravaged squad went out of the FA Cup at Watford. Argyle’s impressive midfield, which has been the bedrock of their success so far this season, saw them without the impressive England under-20 international Jessie Jones, who is now working in the Middle East, plus Kayley Lane and Becky Dandridge.

Add to that, the loss for the remainder of the season of Amber Pollock and the injury to Helen Bleazard meant it was a match they could have done without. The good news is that it was not a league game and this is what Argyle have to concentrate on for the rest of the season.

Leonard said: “There is good news as we have got Greek international Panagiota Papaioannou back fully fit but there is still a doubt about another two or three players, who we will assess before the match.

“It's going to be a tough game but I am not daunted by the size of the task, although Crawley have been in the top two all season. I think we have got a score to settle with them. They caught us unprepared in our first match of the season but I feel we are more experienced now. Hopefully we will go and give them a good battle.”

Leonard has included midfield pairing Kayley Lane and Becky Dandridge in the squad, as well as teenagers Nelinha Barros and Beth Everson.

Squad: Ben Kyle, Lydia Huntley, Helen Bleazard, Mollie Taylor, Kate Middleton, Bow Jackson, Nelinha Barros, Ebony Dover, Leah Burridge, Steph Beck, Faye Ivall, Zoe Cunningham, Natasha Knapman, Bethany Everson, Panagiota Papaioannou, Kayley Lane, Becky Dandridge.