Kevins wants Royal flush

Promotion may be beyond Barnet this season, but these are heady days for the Southern Division club as they continue on the upward curve towards the top flight.

As they prepare to meet bottom club Reading Royals on Sunday, the Bees are lying second in the table and nine points behind leaders Fulham with a game in hand.

And although manager Tracey Kevins admits her team are unlikely to overtake Fulham, she is looking for a strong finish to the campaign to set themselves up for next term.

"The games are running out for us to catch Fulham," she said. "But the aim this season was to improve on what we achieved last year and I’m certain we will do that.

"We finished fourth with 37 points last season and we’ve already got 36 this time, so with four games left we’re well on course.

"We had a great win at Portsmouth last week and it’s them and Millwall who are our strongest challengers for the runners-up spot.

"We’ll be expected to strengthen our position on Sunday against Reading, who we’ve already beaten 6-0 in the League and 10-2 in The FA Women's Cup.

"But we’ll give them the respect they’re due and approach the game in the business-like manner we’ve shown to keep ourselves unbeaten in the League since October."

Kevins herself will not be at Sunday’s game as, in her role as assistant to Under-19 England coach Mo Marley, she will be in La Manga for the Eight-Nations Tournament.

But her Barnet assistant, the former Charlton Athletic captain and central defender Karen Hills, will be in charge of a team that will show two significant changes.

Debuts will be made by Hills’ ex-Addicks colleague Dani Murphy, a former England international, and Kath O’Toole who has signed from Watford.

Kevins added: "Both of these players have dropped down a division to join us and that shows what a progressive and dynamic club we’ve become.

"Dani will be the first senior England international to play for us and signing players like these shows our ambition.

"Karen Hills has also been a great addition to the management side of the club. She’s brought in a wealth of experience at the top level, and that’s where we want to be.

"We might not make it this year, but we’ll aim to pick up as many points as possible – and then have a full-scale go at promotion next season."

While Barnet entertain Reading on Sunday, Fulham visit Team Bath and both Portsmouth and Millwall have home games – against Crystal Palace and Keynsham respectively.