Man City Women v Watford FC Ladies match preview

Man City Women welcome Watford FC Ladies to the Academy Stadium for the first time on Saturday afternoon, as they take on the London team in the fourth round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup.

Watford FC Ladies were founded in 1970 as the Watford Supporters’ Ladies Club and competed in what was the WSL 2, but now play in the WNL South after they were unable to meet the criteria of the new restructured FA WSL and FA Women’s Championship.

Head coach Armand Kavaja, a UEFA A licensed coach, has been in charge since December 2017 and also works within the club’s academy with the under 16 boys’ team, having previously managed the team in 2016 and having also managed semi-professional men’s London Tigers FC.

Young goalkeeper and club number one Weronika Baranowska has recently been called up to the Polish U19 training camp while the Golden Girls captain is Welsh international Helen Ward who brings a wealth of experience.

Midfielder Andrea Carid was capped for Spain at youth level and joined the club from Ourense Envialia FSF in the top futsal division, while Danielle Scanlon and Alysha Stojko-Down respectively spent four years out in the states, completing a football scholarship at the University of Alabama and playing for Arsenal Women’s U21 team competing and winning both the FA Youth Cup in 2013 and 2016.

The club recently signed central midfielder Jennifer Kikomeko after a spell of training with the team, having previously played for Barnet (now London Bees), Crystal Palace and most recently West Bromwich Albion, scoring eight times last season.

On his new signing, head coach Kavaja told watfordfc.com “Jenny will strengthen our central midfield with her ability on the ball and her great work ethic. She has good experience with Palace where she helped them win the Greater London League and from playing at West Brom last season. We look forward to welcoming her amongst our squad”.

Kikomeko also told the website “I am delighted to have signed for Watford. It’s an ambitious club with a competitive environment so it will be a new challenge for me and I can’t wait to get started”.

Kick off at the Academy Stadium is 3pm with tickets available.