St Mirren Women gearing up to battle it out at the top of the table
St Mirren Women are eager to stay in the hunt for the title in the second half of the season. That’s the message from Buddies head coach Kate Cooper.
She admits SWF League One will be tight this term – but wants to make sure her team remain in and around the top of the table.
Prior to Christmas, the Mossedge Village outfit had gone on a sensational eight-game unbeaten streak which saw them sit at the summit for more than two months.
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However, after a 4-2 defeat to Armadale Thistle just before the winter break, the Buddies slipped down to third place.
Cooper believes that this Sunday’s away trip to Edinburgh is all the more important for her side as it will be a chance to leapfrog Bonnyrigg Rose, who sit in second, and put pressure on Armadale in top spot.
“We are not underestimating it as it will be a really tough, tough game,” she told the Paisley Daily Express.
“It is just about us focusing and applying ourselves. The players are looking forward to it and getting back into league action, kicking on and getting stuck into the second half of the season.
“We have got to push ourselves and we are under no illusions of how important this game is now because of the Armadale result.
“It is important that we stay in and around the top of the table as I think it is going to be a really, really tight league.
We know it is certainly not going to be easy. But we have got to step into games and keep connected to those near the top.
“Both those clubs [Aramadale and Bonnyrigg] will be scheduled to play each other really soon – so that is an opportunity for us there should it happen.”
Cooper has added to her squad over the festive period as she looks to strengthen her backline with her side having only kept one clean sheet in the league this season.
Defender Amy Allan has joined Saints from Scottish Championship side Rossvale, with left-sided defender Emma Ward signing on from Championship side Renfrew Ladies. Cooper says the signing of these two players will bring “experience” but also helps keep the squad balanced.
“The two players coming in will add experience and build on the squad that we have,” she added. “It shows you the level of player that we can attract to come into the club now and that is the dream.
“Both are defenders with Amy playing centre-back and Emma being a left-sided defender. We have always felt that we have been short in that area so these two signings will build on that.”
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