Michalska's double mission

Sheffield Wednesday v OOH Lincoln Ladies
FA Tesco Women's Premier League Northern Division
2pm, Sunday 12 April 2009
Maltby Main FC

Hot shot Michalska will be out to take her season’s goal tally past the 30 mark and help her team to a victory that might just be enough to clinch the divisional title and take them into the top flight for the first time in the club’s history.

As they head into the weekend the Imps are nine points clear of second-placed Sunderland at the top of the table, but the Black Cats have six games remaining and are considered favourites to win the division.

Michalska, however, believes that Lincoln can prevail. “Points in the bag are better than games in hand,” she says, “and if we can win at Sheffield on Sunday that will put some pressure on Sunderland.

“They’ve got some tough games coming up – they’ve got to play Leicester twice and they’re a very good side, and they’ve also got to play their big local rivals Newcastle who’ll give them absolutely nothing.

“Sunderland will also have the FA Cup Final on their minds – they’ve done great to get there as a Northern Division club, but the thought of playing in such a massive game in a few weeks time might be a distraction for them.”

There will be no distraction for Michalska on Sunday as the 22 year-old striker, a week after taking her goals total to 29 with four in a 6-0 win at Tranmere Rovers, goes in search of goal number 30 and a 10th win in 11 matches for Lincoln.

“I didn’t get many goals in the early part of the season,” she says, “but then half-way through the season I set myself the target of 30 and if I can reach it on Sunday it would be a great way to finish the campaign.

“I’ve said to our manager, Rod (Wilson), that I’m going to score in the first five minutes and then he can sub me. Only joking though – and the most important thing isn’t me scoring, it’s Lincoln winning.

“We’ve had a really good season, not just in the League but also the FA Cup where we beat Nottingham Forest and were unlucky to lose to Blackburn. Now we want to finish on a high – and then wait to see if Sunderland slip up so we can win the League.”