Kelly Jones urges Everton to perform in key Durham clashMidfielder Kelly Jones believes Everton must beat Durham to keep pace with the FA WSL 2 leaders
Everton’s Kelly Jones insists it is do or die for her side as they prepare to take on Durham in a third versus fourth clash in FA Women’s Super League 2.
The Toffees are six points behind second-placed Bristol City with two games in hand, while Durham sit a further point back in fourth.
Andy Spence’s side claimed a vital 3-0 win over league-leaders Yeovil Town in July before being held at home to Sheffield Ladies last time out.
And Jones has urged her team-mates to treat their clash with Durham as a promotion decider.
“If we’re honest from here until the end of the season, every game is a massive one for us,” the midfielder said.
“We’ve got to this point of the season and we still have all the teams at the top still to play so it’s very much in our hands and if we win all our games we’ll be there or thereabouts for promotion.
“Beating Yeovil Town in the manner we did gave us a lot of confidence, but then we’ve slipped up against Sheffield since then – we were lucky there and certainly didn’t deserve three points.
“So we’ve looked at what we can improve on and hopefully it will all come together on Sunday.
“Durham are just behind us in the league and playing really well this year, so it’s definitely a big game and ultimately we need three points from it.”
The Wildcats have arguably been this season’s surprise package in FA WSL 2, having finished in seventh place last year and defender Sarah Wilson is pleased with the way her side are performing, while also relishing their underdog status.
Durham and Everton face each other twice in the next month and Wilson knows that if her side are to continue to push for a top-two finish, they must perform against the Toffees.
“Some people might have doubted us and seen us as underdogs going into some of the games, but we certainly didn’t think like that,” Wilson said.
“We’ve focused on strengthening our game, and not worried about what’s going on, or being thought, outside of Durham.
“We would start to have to rely on other teams for a helping hand if we lost. This is a massive game for both teams, but we’re trying not to think too far ahead, about what happens if we win or lose.
“Everton have had some excellent results and played some good football. Similarly to us, they have had a few surprises go in their favour and also against them. Every game is tough to call.”
