Gwalia United welcome Billericay to the Newport Stadium on Sunday, eager to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat on the road.
The sides previously met on the opening day of the season, where Billericay secured a resounding 4-0 victory in Essex. Both teams have since struggled with consistency, making this weekend’s clash a crucial opportunity to secure three points ahead of the Christmas break.
Goals on the Horizon?
Fans could be in for an entertaining encounter, with both teams heavily involved in high-scoring matches this season. Billericay’s 10 league games have averaged 3.6 goals per game, while Gwalia United were part of a seven-goal thriller last weekend.
Gwalia’s attacking duo of Cori Williams-Mills and Ellie Sargent are in fine form, each scoring in their last two matches. Meanwhile, Billericay will look to their attacking threats, including star forward Maddie Biggs, who has netted six league goals this term. Recent signings Jessica Francis-Weir and Valentine Francis Pursey have also contributed from across the pitch.
However, Billericay’s struggles on the road have been evident, with their last away goal coming over two months ago in a 3-3 draw against MK Dons. Gwalia, with a game in hand on their visitors, could narrow the gap to two points with a win, while Billericay have the chance to climb as high as sixth in the table.
Burrage-Male: “We’ve Got Fight for Each Other”
Gwalia United boss Fern Burrage-Male is optimistic her team can show resilience against Billericay. Reflecting on last weekend’s disappointment, she admitted:
“It was a real disappointment, the manner in which we lost against Plymouth. It’s definitely something we’re looking to put right this Sunday.”
Burrage-Male was full of praise for winger Ellie Sargent, who has scored in her last two outings:
“She’s a top, top talent. I’m really glad she’s been getting on the scoresheet. But I’ve got to give credit to the wider group for creating the opportunities for Ellie to do what she does best.”
Addressing defensive frailties, Burrage-Male stressed the importance of learning from their mistakes:
“We recognise that everybody on the pitch played a part in [conceding four goals]. We felt they were errors we controlled and could fix. That’s huge if you know the outcome is in your hands.”
Piggott: “We’ve Got to Enjoy Our Football”
Full-back Libbie Piggott echoed her manager’s sentiments, urging her teammates to approach the match with positivity:
“It wasn’t fun at all to get that result. We’ve got to enjoy our football—that’s how we’re going to bounce back. Get the ball on the floor, get the passes going, and do it with a smile on our face.”
With two consecutive home matches on the horizon, Piggott expressed excitement for the challenge ahead:
“I think we’re excited for the game ahead just to put the wrongs right. The two home games coming up are super exciting.”
Revenge or Repeat?
With attacking talent on both sides and plenty at stake, Sunday’s showdown promises to be a gripping contest. Will Gwalia United exact revenge, or will Billericay double up on their opening-day success? All will be revealed at the Newport Stadium.
