Argyle return to FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division play on Sunday afternoon, travelling to Gloucestershire to face Cheltenham Town.
The Robins currently sit ninth in the league table. After picking up wins against Real Bedford and Oxford United in their opening three games of the campaign, defeats to second-placed Watford at home and league leaders AFC Bournemouth have placed Cheltenham just outside the relegation zone.
Now, the hosts will have to face an Argyle side that tops the division for goals scored and sit in third place. However, Head Coach Marie Hourihan believes Cheltenham’s strengths lie at home, so a tough test will ensue on the weekend.
“Cheltenham are an established team in the league,” Hourihan told Argyle TV. “I think their results recently probably haven't reflected their performances, from what I've seen. They've got some dangerous attacking players.
“I'm fully expecting a very difficult game. The Bournemouth and Watford games were both fairly tight affairs, so we're going to have to be fully prepared and ready for a battle at their ground.
“They’re a very effective team and have a proven home record. We need to hit the ground running in minute one, off the back of the last two performances we've had, where we've scored goals and been clinical. On the flip side, it’s a similar affair to the Lewes game, in that it's a difficult away day. We need to establish ourselves early on in the game and take advantage of the opportunities when we have the ascendancy.
“Every game counts and, for us, momentum is key. We've got good momentum. We were disappointed with the Watford defeat, and started to refine those key moments of being more clinical. A big thing for us, though, is that we've got to be on it all the time. We are getting into good areas and creating good opportunities, but the refinement of the finish or the final pass is something that we need to continue to work on.
“This weekend, it's going to matter hugely, as I said, because Cheltenham will pose a good test. At the other end of the pitch, we've been tight and got two clean sheets in the last two games, which is a real positive. We need to continue that and be very diligent in our defending on Sunday.”
