Report by Josh Bailey
Sutton United Women travel to Princes Park on Sunday to face last year’s league runners-up Dartford FC Women.
Last season, the U’s lost to the Darts in both fixtures, getting thumped 0-5 away from home in February but managing to salvage some pride at home, losing narrowly 1-2.
It means Lucy Clark’s side is out for revenge this weekend, hoping to build on their opening day comeback against Sport London e Benfica e Ladies
After a frustrating start in Cobham, Sutton kicked into gear in the second half, blowing the visitors away with some clinical finishing in front of goal to turn the game on its head, winning 6-2 after trailing 2-1 at halftime.
New signing Gabrielle Williams impressed (understatement of the season), scoring a hat-trick on her debut, and after missing a handful of chances in the first half, the sky seems the limit for the American.
Meanwhile, on the South Coast, Dartford sank Newhaven and were on the beach by half-time, scoring four in the first half, in a 7-2 rout.
It was the perfect way to bounce back from a disappointing end to last season for the Darts, missing out on promotion by 10 points, after leading the London and South East Women’s Regional league halfway through the campaign.
Over the summer, Sutton and Dartford signed a combined 22 players, meaning the teams should look rather different on the weekend, compared to last year.
Then, mix the fact that both teams are looking for back-to-back wins to start the season, and Sunday’s match day pot is currently bubbling up to be a competitive and feisty fixture.
