Preview: Cardiff City Ladies v Plymouth Argyle Ladies

by Cole Martin

CARDIFF City Ladies face a stern test this Sunday as they welcome high-scoring Plymouth Argyle Ladies to Ystrad Mynach.

Both teams are undefeated since their opening games of the season, with Argyle now boasting an impressive 26 league goals and five wins from the last five.

It’s a match which could send the visitors to the top of the Southern Premier Division as current leaders Crawley Wasps Ladies are in cup action this weekend.

Cardiff will be relying on their solid defensive record to continue as they look to halt another goal-fest from Gary Leonard’s side. They have scored five or more in each of their last four league matches.

Lauren Smith’s Ladies though have managed to secure four clean sheets from six league games so far this season. Smith has had the luxury of rotating two talented stoppers in Claire Skinner and Laura O’Sullivan, who were both selected for Wales Women’s Euro 2021 qualifying match against Belarus.

Looking to break through the solid Cardiff City defence will be Argyle top scorer Nathasha Knapman, who has netted seven times in her previous two matches, scoring a brace against MK Dons and an astounding five goals against Hounslow.

Knapman has now reached over a century of goals in her two spells for The Pilgrims, establishing herself as one of the most prolific strikers in their history.

Looking to outshine Knapman will be Cardiff’s Nadia Lawrence and Grace Horrell, who were also rewarded with international call ups by Wales, being part of a squad that earned a heroic 1-0 win against Belarus to keep qualification hopes alive.

A win for Cardiff City Ladies could take them up to third in the Southern Premier Division.

Kick-off is 2pm at the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach.