Fara ready for Toffees' opener

Everton LFC v Nottingham Forest LFC
The FA Tesco Women's Premier League
2pm, Sunday 27 September 2009
Marine FC

Fara Williams is adamant her Euro heartbreak will not prevent her from starting the new season in style with Everton Ladies.

The 25-year-old midfielder, who was part of the side which lost out to Germany in a pulsating Final in Finland, has already set her sights on leading the Toffees to the title.

The girls were left gutted last season after losing out to eventual champions Arsenal on goal difference following a painful 1-0 defeat against the Gunners on the final day.

The memories of missing out on a first League title since 1998 still haunt the Everton captain, but she remains positive going into this weekend's opener against Nottingham Forest.

"To lose out in the Final was a blow but the girls are all buzzing ahead of the new season and everyone is ready to go," said Williams, who was named International Player of the Year in 2007.

"There were seven Everton girls out there and some of them didn't get that much game time in Finland so they're really keen to show what they can do.

"We did so well last year and we were only one point away from an Arsenal team which has dominated for so many years.

"They're always going to be up there because they can attract great players and they have a fantastic team. But for women's football in this country it's great to have such quality teams."

Williams is set to start against Forest and the 2009 Club Player of the Year reckons her girls are in for a tough test on the opening day of the new season.

She added: "Forest gave us some really good games last season and are tough team to play against.

"Because we've been doing so well, we're seen as a bit of a scalp now and teams always raise their game to beat us. But we put so much pressure on ourselves that it doesn't matter what the other team does.

"We have to go out there and play to our potential and if we do that then we should win the game."