EMBLEY EXCITED FOR TOP OF TABLE CLASH AT FOREST

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Born and bred Claret prepared for challenge that awaits women’s team this weekend

2023-03-30T08:00:00.000Z

EMBLEY EXCITED FOR TOP OF TABLE CLASH AT FOREST

Born and bred Claret prepared for challenge that awaits women’s team this weekend

2023-03-30T08:00:00.000Z

Lifelong Clarets fan Leah Embley looks ahead to an emotional Turf Moor bow

Leah Embley says she and her teammates are all eager for Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest to come round as they look to continue their unbeaten run in the league so far this season.

Jay Bradford’s side currently sit 2nd in the Northern Premier Division of the FA Women’s National League, four points behind leaders Forest with two games in hand on the Reds.

The winners of the league take on the winners of the Southern Premier Division come the end of the season in a play-off final for a spot in the Women’s Championship.

Claret Women head to Midlands for crunch clash against league leaders Forest

And as they enter a crucial month in April, with six league games remaining, Embley says she and the rest of the squad want to make it a landmark season.

“This will be a tough game, but I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve got some momentum now from the wins that we’ve had recently, and we’re all just buzzing for Sunday.

“If we perform as well as we can do, and continue to do that until the end of the season, we know that this could go down as a really special season for the club on the whole.

“We drew too many games at the start of the season, so it’s a positive for us now that we’ve started to turn draws in similar types of games into wins. I think it’s fair to say as well that we’ve been winning games convincingly as well, so that can only be a good thing for confidence within the squad.

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“Sunday is a big game, there’s no doubt about it, but we’ve prepared as we normally would for any game. We can’t and won’t treat it any differently to our other games so far this season, and we’ll go there knowing what we need to do to get the result we want.”

Embley, who played her part in back-to-back promotions for the Claret Women before departing, re-joined the club last summer.

Burnley-born and a Clarets supporter herself, the tricky winger – who can also play up front – has netted seven times already this season.

Contributing to six wins in a row ahead of Sunday’s Midlands trip, Embley has played her part in a 24-goal haul for the side across those six victories.

And as one of 16 players within the squad to have scored at least once to date this season, she knows how important sharing the goals around can be.

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“I think having so many attacking threats takes the pressure off all of us, and I don’t just mean in terms of us as forwards. The defenders have contributed this season with goals, as have the midfielders. We just need Lauren [Bracewell] or Lucy [Farrell] to pop up with one now!

“In all seriousness though, it’s a good thing to be able to score goals from all over the pitch. It’s something that we really try to work on in training every week, and having different people on the scoresheet means that there’s always someone you know you can rely on to pop up with a goal if you need one.”

Embley also praised the club’s fans for their support of both the men’s team and women’s team since her return.

She and the rest of the women’s squad have been attended games at Turf Moor this season as guests of the club, and have seen a steady growth in attendances at their own games.

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“The fans have been unreal this season, and that’s for both us and the men which has been really positive for us. Obviously, both of us have been doing well on the pitch which helps, but the fans really do help us in games.

“We all talk to each other, whether it be in the changing rooms or on the training pitch, about how nice it is hearing them backing us in Leyland.

“They come down and shout our names out, young and old, so it’d be great to see some of them make the journey down and get behind us again this weekend!”

This weekend’s crunch clash at the top of the table takes place at the Halbrooke Stadium (NG16 3HB). You can buy tickets online HERE, or just pay on the gate on Sunday. Entry will cost you £5 for adults & £3 for concessions.