Argyle Women play host to AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, at Home Park, in the biggest game of the season so far for both teams.
Third in the FAWNL Premier Division South, Argyle are unbeaten in seven games, in all competitions. Meanwhile, the Cherries are top of the division, boasting an unbeaten record for the season so far.
Argyle have been on the road for the last three weeks, beating Lewes and Cheltenham Town in the league, and Bristol Rovers in the FAWNL Cup, scoring 12 goals and conceding none in the process.
Back at Home Park for the first time in a while, Head Coach Marie Hourihan is excited for the fixture – and she isn’t the only one.
“Excitement, I think, is the word to use,” Hourihan told Argyle TV. “Off the back of a really good result last weekend, we go into this game full of confidence.
“Bournemouth are a good team, though. They've recruited some Championship-level players in the summer and started the season well, under their new coach. They also have a clear way of playing, so I expect an exciting game between two really good teams and an excellent spectacle for National League Women's football.
“They’re very attacking-focused, have a lot of pace on the top line, have scored lots of goals this season, and have not conceded many - similar to ourselves. They're an organised team and really effective on the front line.
“Like any game, we'll do our homework and preparation, and implement our game plan. It’s very much full focus on us, in that respect, and making sure that we are prepared in the best possible way.
“We played Watford earlier in the season where we came away disappointed, and have since learnt from that. Now, we're playing a game against a team that sits on top of the league, so we must apply ourselves and make sure that we use those lessons learnt.
“The emphasis is on us, with it being at Home Park. We want this place to be really difficult for teams to come and play at, so it'll be no different on Sunday. We’ve got some very good weapons of our own. The focus is on us.”
Hourihan, like many others, knows how much of a difference the attending Green Army makes at Home Park, and is hoping for a repeat of the great support seen throughout the campaign already.
She said: “It's going to be a good opportunity for the Green Army to come and watch an exciting game of football. It’s going to be a spectacle. You've got two good footballing teams. Hopefully, the weather is quite nice on Sunday as well, so the conditions are going to be suited for both teams.
“I encourage everyone and anyone to come down if they're free on Sunday because there are some technically superb players on show, and it will be a great example of the exciting women’s football we have on offer at Home Park.”
