Blackburn Rovers v Bristol Academy
The FA Tesco Women's Premier League Cup
Second Round
2pm, Sunday 14 October 2007
Clitheroe FC

The FA Tesco Women’s Premier League’s leading scorers Katie Anderton and Kerry Bartlett go head to head on Sunday in what promises to be a thrilling Premier League Cup meeting between high flyers Blackburn Rovers and Bristol Academy.

Bristol’s Bartlett has hit seven goals in eight League games to put her team topof the table, while Anderton has bagged 11 of second placed Blackburn’s League goals – and Anderton is predicting a very close Cup contest at Rovers’ Clitheroe FC home ground.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if it goes to penalties,” said the prolific striker, who last season scored 26 League and Cup goals. “We’ve already played each other twice in the League, both games were really tight and I’m expecting it to be the same on Sunday.”

Academy won 3-1 at Blackburn, Bartlett hitting one of the goals, but a fortnight later Rovers battled to a well earned 2-2 draw at Bristol – whose 100 per cent record was ended by a late but deserved equaliser from Anderton.

Almost inevitably, Anderton’s name was also on the scoresheet when Rovers hammered Brighton 8-0 in the first round of the Premier League Cup two weeks ago. But they won’t have it so easy on Sunday, promises Academy’s Bartlett.

The 24 year-old striker has been a revelation since being signed by Bristol from non-League Forest Green 15 months ago, scoring 19 League and Cup goals last season and carrying on in the same vein this term.

“I wasn’t sure I’d be good enough for the Premier League,” she admits, “but I adapted pretty quickly and I’ve exceeded my own expectations. It’s been a bit of a relief though, to carry on scoring this season.

“You do get one-season wonders who fade away after doing so well, but happily I’ve got a few goals already and that’s kept my confidence flowing – and I’m certainly confident about getting the result we want on Sunday.

“We were brilliant up at Blackburn when we beat them 3-1, but then at our place we didn’t show up for the first half and overall it was a disappointing afternoon for us. But we’ll be going back up there believing we can come away with another win.

“It won’t be easy because they’re a good team and Anderton certainly knows where the net is – but after our fantastic comeback to beat Chelsea 4-3 on Wednesday we’re flying and we really fancy ourselves to make the quarter-finals.”

Bristol were 3-0 down before amazingly pulling off their great win at Chelsea, but that result and the confidence boost it will have given the Academy players will not in any way intimidate Blackburn, insists Anderton.

“We’ve made a decent start to the season and we’re determined to do well in the League Cup,” she says. “We reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season and now we’d love to get into the final of either of the major Cup competitions.

“We feel we’ve got a real chance in the League Cup. Sunday is going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that, but if we can come through this game then two more wins will take us to the final – and that’s our aim!”

If there is adverse weather on Sunday and you wish to check the status of the game, please call Rob Gill on 07719406118