Women's Under-19s set for Dulwich Hamlet test

Our Women’s Under-19s begin their Capital Cup campaign with a trip to Dulwich Hamlet on Sunday afternoon (2pm UK) at Champion Hill in the first round of the competition.

Following a positive few weeks in the Professional Game Academy League, where our youngsters sit fourth in the table and just five points off leaders Leicester City, attention now turns to the senior cup as we begin our journey in the competition against the FA Women’s National League Division One South East side.

Dulwich, who are currently eighth in their league and unbeaten in five games in all competitions, progressed from the preliminary round after a 4-0 win over Millwall Lionesses last month.

We faced the south-east London side in the semi-final of competition last season, where our youngsters put in a spirited performance against the senior side but fell short in the end, as we suffered a 2-1 defeat at Champion Hill.

Supporters will be able to attend the fixture at Champion Hill, with tickets priced at £5.30 for adults (aged 18-64), £2.80 for Concessions (aged 65 and over) and free for Under-13s. Tickets will be available to buy on the day but, please note, that the stadium only accepts card payments.

Watch | Academy player Nife Aramide reflects on the season so far

Under-19s Head Coach Sabiha Jamal will be able to call upon a number of players that are currently on dual registrations in the FA Women’s National League, including Kendra Brown, Cruz Fuller-Fagan, Beatrice Cunnison, Erin Radbourne, Grace Breen and Jhanaie Pierre. Midfielder Ruby Gaitely and defender Blue Bartlett-Antwi will be unavailable for the cup tie.

Having competed in the FA Women’s National League Cup earlier this season, where our Under-19s reached the knockout stages of the Plate, Sabiha feels the squad is in a ‘better place’ to go toe-to-toe with senior opposition this time around.

“It’s massive for this group of players,” she told us. “We obviously played against senior opposition earlier in the campaign, but I think this game is bigger now that we’ve spent more time as a group since.

“I feel the squad is a better place and, having faced those senior sides previously, hopefully the team can go into this weekend game with not many nerves around it and the feeling that they can compete – as shown in the FAWNL Cup. However, we remember being at Dulwich last season, that noise, that fanbase is something that a lot of players are not used to. We know how tough Sunday will be against an in-form side, but we’re excited to test ourselves once again.”