Argyle Women are set to have record-breaking attendance figures on Wednesday night when facing Exeter City at Home Park.
The highly-anticipated Devon Derby fixture has drawn in large numbers, thanks in part to a Celebration of Women and Girls in Sport event prior to kick-off, but also due to the success of the team this season.
The reverse match ended in a 1-1 draw in Exeter, with a Tianna Teisar goal bringing Argyle level after they fell behind. Now, however, the Greens believe they can perform well and achieve a positive result in front of a busy Theatre of Greens.
Head Coach Marie Hourihan thinks having the Green Army in PL2 in large numbers can only help her side, who are looking to bounce back after a goalless draw at Gwalia United last weekend.
“We know how much this game means to not just the supporters, but everyone connected with the football club,” Hourihan told Argyle TV. “It was a great occasion last time out at St James Park, and now it being at Home Park, and that we're anticipating a record crowd, should make it another really good game.
“For me, having that many fans at the game won’t add any pressure, and I think for the players it will be the same. It adds that extra layer of excitement but also drive and desire to perform. I think we all agreed in the previous game [against Gwalia] that we didn’t hit the performance levels we wanted to, so it's an opportunity for us to rectify that now in front of our own supporters.
“They have been fantastic this season, I will add, so this is just a great opportunity to showcase women's football in Devon. You've got two fantastic and very good footballing teams that are going to go full throttle under the lights.
“The Gwalia game was a bit of a wakeup call. We’ve put ourselves in a great position in the league, but to maintain that, and if we do want to achieve what we want to achieve, then we've got to be more consistent and ruthless. That has definitely been taken into the preparation for this game because we know how marginal derby games are.
“Key moments matter. We need to take those lessons learned into this game and ensure we are ruthless and clinical when we need to be, but calm and collected at the right times because it's a big occasion.
“The players must embrace it, not fear it, and enjoy it.”
Argyle Women are next in action on Wednesday, 18 February, for a Devon Derby against Exeter City, for which entry is FREE. Find out more, here.
