ITFC Women host Billericay Town Ladies in a top-of-the-table clash at the Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe on Sunday afternoon (KO 2pm). The Tractor Girls go into the game second in the FAWNL Division One South East, three points behind the the Essex side, who are the current leaders.

Looking ahead to what’s likely to prove a very significant match, defender Eva Hubbard said: “We’re feeling good. Regardless of the occasion, we’re leading up to it like we normally would but obviously we know it’s a top of the table clash and we know it’s going to be a big game.

“The momentum is just crazy at the moment, we’re unbeaten but so are Billericay so they’ll have that too, we just need to play how we play how we play and we should get the win.

“It will be the toughest test we will face this season in the league, so we need to make sure we really get really stuck in and get our heads switched on right from the start and really go for it.”

The teams drew 1-1 in Essex in March - Town won last season’s corresponding home fixture 2-0 - and recalling that game Hubbard said: “They were quite organised and they’ve got some really good individual players, we know their strengths and their weaknesses, so as long as we play our game we should win.”

The star of last Sunday’s 7-0 win at Stevenage was 16-year-old Sophie Peskett, who scored a hat-trick, won two penalties and created another goal.

“She’s a really good player and has really come on for the first team and the U21s, so it’s good to have her just in front of me and play some balls through and we work well as a pair, I think,” Hubbard added.

Reflecting on the atmosphere at home games during 2019/20, with attendances well up on last term, Hubbard said: “The fans have been amazing so far this season, the support has just been mad. They really do get behind us and we notice it on the pitch.”

Photo: Ross Halls

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