The Belles are in long-awaited cup final action this weekend as they take on Huddersfield Town in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Women’s County Cup on Sunday.
The two sides meet at Hillsborough for a repeat of last year’s showpiece, where the Belles will be looking to exact revenge for the 1-0 defeat to the Terriers 12 months ago.
Huddersfield, four time winners of the competition, sit second bottom of the National League Northern Premier League Division, one level above the Belles.
They reached the final in emphatic fashion, going on a relentless run that saw them score 32 goals on the way, including a 17-0 win over Penistone Church in November, and are looking for a third straight County Cup crown.
The cup has provided welcome relief from a tough league season, with the Terriers already relegated following defeat at champions Newcastle two weeks ago.
The Belles have enjoyed more recent successes, with five games without defeat providing the perfect springboard going into Sunday’s final.
Ciaran Toner's side powered through to Hillsborough with a 3-1 semi final win over Barnsley in February, and have also scored 32 goals in their 5 games en route.
And the Belles manager says his side are ‘looking forward’ to the opportunity to take an historic scalp against a higher ranking opponent.
“It’s always nice to be in a final, it’s always nice to be in that hunt and the hat to get some silverware, and I think the club’s been missing that for quite a while,” he said.
“We have a chance to put right last year, where we came so close, and also to try and symbolise what we want to be as a football club moving forward.”
“It’s a really good opportunity, and one we’re really looking forward to. It’s a really tough game, as usual, but I do believe that if we turn up and we apply ourselves in the right way then we’ll compete.”
Phoebe Sneddon will make her 50th appearance in blue and yellow should she feature on Sunday, as the Belles look for their eighth victory overall in the competition, having last triumphed in 2010.
The final at Hillsborough on Sunday is pay-on-the-gate for supporters, with entry £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Kick off is at 15:00.
