Notts County Ladies – WSL Title Challengers?

With the mid-season break now underway in the Women’s Super League with the World Cup looming, can Notts County Ladies make a sustained effort and challenge for the title?

With  most side having played six games in WSL 1 so far this season, Rick Passmoor’s Notts County side sit third in the table three points behind leaders Chelsea. With the return of England striker Ellen White this season after injury forced her to miss last season’s campaign, the Ladypies look to be one of the stronger sides this season and though they were comfortably beaten by leaders Chelsea, their results since have seen an air of optimism swirl around the Meadow Lane club.

The Ladypies were impressive winning their last four games on the bounce scoring 13 goals in the process and along with White, crucial goals from Rachel Williams as well as contributions from all over the park have seen the club become serious contenders for the WSL title.

Chelsea look to be the team to beat in the 2015 season with strong performances already from midfielder Katie Chapman and the attacking threat of England international Eni Aluko but they will need to work hard in the return fixture against the Meadow Lane club as Passmoor has created a side that has as much heart as they have skill, with the impressive Carly Telford, who should be England’s number one at the World Cup after her performances this season, whilst across the back the introduction of Alex Greenwood has been a forward thinking move.

The midfielder is ran by Dani Buet, Leanne Crichton and Sophie Walton, whilst the exciting winger Jess Clarke offers an attacking threat at all times and links up well with boyh White and Williams going forward. Singling out individuals is perhaps harsh as they have contributions all across the park as well as on the bench and they have developed an impressive morale around the club.

Ultimately this season may have come too soon for the side that moved across to Nottingham from Lincoln in 2014 and now look settled into the city in there second season. With each season coming, the side look more and more like they can mount a serious title challenge in coming season’s and shrewd acquisitions in the transfer market over the winter could see Notts County Ladies show that they mean business in the ever-improving Women’s Super League.

However with the side refreshed from their mid-season break, they will likely put the pressure back onto title favourites Chelsea and should the John Terry-owned side slip up, the Ladypies look more than equipped to capitalize on any slip-ups by the London club.