Briton Ferry captain Lowri Ridings has stressed that her side are certainly not underdogs, as they prepare to face Wrexham for a place in the Adran Premier.
Sunday sees Ferry battle against the Red Dragons for a place in Wales’ premier women’s competition.
To the outsider, Wrexham’s riches and Hollywood backers seems to make them favourites for this clash, but Ridings isn’t keen on her side being tagged as an underdog.
“I’ve heard a lot of things recently about how Briton Ferry are the underdogs, but I don’t personally like the phrase underdog.
“It doesn’t sit well with me because the phrase underdog discredits my team, and I don’t like that.
“Wrexham have got a really good following and credit to them for the amazing attendance they had at their game, amazing not just for Wrexham but for women’s football.
“I suppose we are little old Ferry anyway!”
Rhys James’ side strode to the Adran South title, and after narrowly missing out on it last season, Ridings and her teammates only had eyes on the gold this time round.
“Last season we were quite close and credit to Abergavenny because they’re a good team, and they rightly deserved to be promoted.
“Coming into this season, we wanted to achieve what we didn’t get last season and we’ve worked hard to do it.”
While winning the Adran South is an amazing achievement, it has come with a lot of difficulties.
Most notably, perhaps, the Adran South is only a five-team league, and it’s been difficult all season for every player in the league to keep their levels up.
“That’s been, in my opinion, the biggest challenge this season.
“Before Christmas I think we had only played 2 games in the league, so it was very important for us to have a good run in the cup, because it provided us with playing opportunities.
“Having weeks off where we didn’t have a game or because the weather wasn’t great, makes it so hard to get back into the swing of things.
“You can train all you want, but it’s not the same as playing a game.”
When pushed on what could be done to better the situation for clubs in the second tier, Ridings had a clear answer.
“I think there needs to be more teams in the Adran Premier. There’s multiple teams in the Adran North and Adran South who can compete in the Prem.
“I’d also think more teams in the Adran Prem would want to play more fixtures, so I think it’s a no brainer really.”
Despite the lack of games, there have been standout performers across the pitch for Briton Ferry.
Their starring light this season has been Meg Kearle. Kearle has 20 goals and 14 assists to her name, and her captain is delighted with what her forward has achieved so far.
“Meg is a great person, not just on the pitch but off it too. She’s a big character within the team but on the pitch, she’s come on leaps and bounds.
“Meg has always been a quality player but this season she’s really excelled and her stats back that up.
“She’s really kicked on and she’s played a slightly different position to what she would have before.
“Previously she was on the wing, so you could argue she’s been given more of an opportunity to score goals, but all credit to her she’s taken them as well.”
Kearle and the rest of the Ferry team will have to be on the top of their game to beat a Wrexham side who have gone unbeaten in the league this season.
“It’s very exciting. It’s been a painful wait until we play it, we all wish the game could happen a few weeks ago but we’re really looking forward to it.
“I’ve watched Wrexham play and they’ve got great players, they’re not a team we’re going to take lightly, and you don’t win the league for no reason. You don’t score that many goals for no reason.”
Briton Ferry are also involved in the FAW Cup final against Cardiff City; however, promotion is the only thing on their mind, and Ridings knows just what it would mean for the club and the town.
“It would mean so much for everyone in the club, not just the players, it’ll mean so much to the coaching staff, the people who are not necessarily directly involved with the club, but for the community it would be brilliant.”
Briton Ferry take on Wrexham in the Adran play-off at Newtown’s Latham Park on Sunday April 16th. Kick-off is at 16:30.
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