Ipswich v Canterbury Ladies

MEL CLEWLOW says Canterbury Ladies are determined to draw a line under two below-par performances in the National League Premier Division starting at Ipswich on Saturday.

A fortnight ago things looked so good, but a draw against struggling Old Loughtonians the previous week had the alarm bells ringing, and a 2-1 defeat against Bowdon Hightown at the weekend, their first at home this season, cost them top spot in the table.

Skipper Clewlow said: "We were 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go and then started to play the way we know we can. It’s frustrating because we have worked so hard to be leaders, but have let ourselves down in the last two weeks, and not played well."

Clewlow believes the loss of two starting forwards, Anna Bennett and Christina Houslop, have been crucial, while Nikki Litchfield has returned after recovering from an arm injury. Susannah Townsend is set to miss the trip to Ipswich due to school commitments.

Goalkeeper Becky Duggan and Cathy Gilliat-Smith face their former club, and Clewlow said: "They are a bit of a bogey side to us, play on a sand-based pitch and have a couple of a matchwinners.

"We played three times last season, but only beat them in the Super Cup, and I am sure that Becky and Cathy will want to certainly make a statement against their old team."