WOMEN'S TEAM | Charlton looking for ninth successive win

David Brenchley reports

Avilla Bergin says there is still room for improvement for the Charlton women’s team, despite them having won their last eight matches.

The Addicks host West Bromwich Albion in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup this afternoon and she says that her and her teammates are demanding more from themselves.

“We’re feeling more and more confident as that unbeaten streak goes on,” she said.

“At times, we feel like we’ve got the result but not always been happy with our performance but that’s just credit to the girls - that they’ve got such high expectations for themselves.

“That winning isn’t always enough for us – we want to say that we’ve given a good performance as well.”

The Baggies promise to be an unknown quantity for Charlton but are expected to provide a tough test, having won the FAWPL Northern Division last season, before losing out to Brighton in the play-off final.

Although they currently sit second from bottom in that league, they have games in hand on almost every other team and know that two wins could move them into third place.

And Northern Ireland international Bergin says, whilst her side will focus on what they can do, they will not underestimate their opponents.

She said: “We’re not too sure what they’ll bring to the table but, looking at their cup runs and league form last year, they were definitely a big force in their league. We won’t underestimate them.

“We know that if we play the way we can play, it doesn’t matter who we come up against. Focusing on our own game should be our priority.”

A summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur, Bergin was part of the Spurs side that overcame Cardiff City on penalties to lift the FAWPL Cup last season. That memory was a highlight from her time in North London and the 25-year-old hopes to repeat that with her new side, who won the competition the year before.

She said: “We want to try to win some silverware this season, so the closer we can get to those finals the better. It’s always nice to get a good cup run and we know we’re not far off the final. It’s a big incentive to try and get another win on Sunday.”