And with the ladies at the venue for the first time, and playing on a different day from the men, Matthews has high hopes his team will put on a good footballing performance as well as win.Matthews, who himself made nine Muratti appearances, said: ‘Winning is top priority but a very close second is to play well.
We’ve had a lot of good publicity with the match being at Springfield for the first time and I want people to walk away afterwards saying they really enjoyed the game.’It will never be the same as the men’s game but the ladies work just as hard and they are continuing to improve.
It’s an exciting spectacle and I want people to leave the ground thinking “”Yes, those ladies really can play a bit””.’I’m confident we can play well and hold onto the trophy.
We’ve lost some key players because of injury and three or four years ago I would have been worried about that.
But that is not the case now as we have strength in depth with some young and very exciting players coming through.Not announcedMatthews and assistant Kevin Miller have not announced their starting side to allow midfielder Sarah Armstrong, last season’s player-of-the-match and goalscorer in a 3-2 win in Guernsey, as long as possible to prove her fitness.Armstrong may still make the team but three of last year’s winners, goalkeeper Helen Lagadu, defender Kate Ridley and midfielder Nina Woods, are injured.Matthews said: ‘I feel for those who are sidelined as everyone wants to play in the Muratti.
We have very capable replacements and team captain Sarah Gavey leads by example.
on the pitch.’ and never stops running.
She is an all-action player who is strong in the tackle and she can kick with both feet.’Guernsey won the first five matches in the series with Jersey winning in 2002 and 2003.Possible Jersey starting line-up: Krystle Matthews; Michaela Dawson, Nikki Warren, Marie Rolland, Kirstin Buttle, Kerry Sauvage, Becky Darts, Sarah Armstrong, Sarah Gavey, Lynette Le Gresley, Jodie Botterill.
