Cambridge United Women in confident mood ahead of Women’s FA Cup first-round clash against MK Dons
Manager Darren Marjoram is well aware that his Cambridge United side will be underdogs when they play host to higher-league MK Dons in the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday (November 12).
However, with a largely positive start to the 2023/24 campaign behind them, the U’s will run out at the Premier Plus Stadium in St Neots full of confidence.
With five victories and three draws from their opening nine FA Women’s National League Division One South outings, Cambridge have already surpassed their points tally for the entirety of 2022/23. And they have also racked up back-to-back wins in the FA Women’s National League Plate alongside a 4-2 triumph over AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup.
This weekend’s opponents have also made a bright start a level above in the Southern Premier Division, yet Marjoram is hopeful that his players can use their own momentum to make them competitive.
He said: “We’re on a good run but there is no arrogance about us. We’re making sure we stay humble and continue to work hard.
“We’ll go into the game with some confidence, but it’s a hard-working confidence and nobody is getting carried away. We know MK Dons are going to provide a really big test – we’re under no illusions about that.
“We’re going to be the underdogs and in that sense there is no real pressure on us heading into the game.
“We may tweak little bits about how we play because they’re a very good side with a great attacking threat, but we also want to focus on ourselves and try to make an impact on the game ourselves.”
Marjoram has been particularly impressed with the way that his team have adjusted to life without their key player Sarah Wiltshire.
Last season’s leading goalscorer, who bagged all four goals in the victory over Haywards Heath Town back in September, has only featured twice this term after announcing that she is pregnant with her third child.
Yet in her absence Alysha Stojko-Down and Isabella Simmons have netted six goals apiece in the league, while Ruth Fox took her tally to four with a headed hat-trick during last weekend’s 4-1 win at Chesham United.
Marjoram added: “When you don’t have a player with the quality of Sarah, you do worry – there is no other way to put it.
“She scored all four against Haywards Heath and when you have a player like that you build your team around her.
“But we’ve found another way to score goals and it’s been pleasing to see the likes of Alysha, Bella and Ruth all step up so quickly.
“We still think we could be a bit more clinical in terms of the number of chances we create, but we think that will come.
“All of the players – especially the attackers – have been very receptive to what we’re trying to do. They’re good people, good players and we’re very lucky in that sense.
“When you lose a player like Sarah, players in your own dressing room might have doubts and the opposition also gets a boost when she’s not on the team sheet.
“But we’ve had some success early on in terms of goals being scored and we’ve kicked on from there.”
After missing the last three games through suspension, Fran Steele will return to the United squad to face the Dons.
