FA Cup action returns to the Northcourt on Sunday as #AUWFC welcome Leyton Orient WFC from the FA National Women's League Division 1 South East.

The Opposition
Orient enter the FA Cup at this stage so are yet to play in the competition however Sunday's visitors have enjoyed an undefeated start to the season currently sat third in their league having won five and drawn one. Unlike Abingdon they enter the fixture on the back of a win where they scored all three against AFC Basildon last week. The O's have scored a lot this season hitting the net 23 times this season with top scorers Otesha Charles and Sophie Le Marchand sharing 12 of them.

Squad Update
James Thorpe will still be without Karima Elouath, Katie Totton (knee) and Steph Carrick (ankle) whilst Tee Koudoua is also an addition to the physio room with illness. Sahara Osborne-Ricketts is unavailable for the tie whereas Lauren May and Olivia Day are ineligible for this fixture. The yellows do welcome back Kelly Talbot and Suzie Maton who are both available for selection this week.

Words from Woody
This week Head of Women's Football Adam Wood gave his thoughts....

"The management team and squad are really looking forward to tomorrow's tie. We are already further than our debut season in this competition last year and I'm extremely proud of Thorpy and the ladies

"Orient will be a very good side, they have had a great start to their respective season however cup games are completely different sometimes the league placement doesn't matter. They are an FAWNL side and that is where we are aspiring to be so it will be good to measure where we are if both teams bring their A-game.

"I don't think we can look too much at last week's game, there were elements I am sure Thorpy addressed but if we thought or anyone thought we wouldn't have tough games this season then that would be foolish. We were well in the game all through it and maybe a 2-1 loss was unjust however Bournemouth were also very good they have a strong side and Steve Cuss is doing some great work down there.

"My new role is quite different this season, to say I am missing coaching/managing the team is a massive understatement but we are putting some great things in off the field. It has allowed me to focus our connections elsewhere, we have nearly 20 sponsors around the team now which is hugely satisfying and I am personally grateful for this. It means that nearly all of our squad are not needing to pay fees this season but we always have more player and other sponsorship opportunities available so I would encourage businesses to get in touch.

"We will have more involvement with youth sides around the county and there is more on that to come in the next few weeks but I have been delivering the mascot sessions (with huge thanks to Steve and Megs) and I believe on the small to no budget we have for that they have gone down really well. All this is key to what we want to do moving forward.

"A massive thanks to Thorpy for taking on the reigns this season and really delivering on the field but also helping me out massively off it. Also to Gina and Megs in their coaching roles, with the level we are at to have someone who can focus on rehabilitation and injuries (Gina) alongside coaching is unheard of and I'm sure I join others in congratulating Megs on her amazing work with Sophie Kirby who has significantly improved since Megs took on the role of Goalkeeper coach".

Elsewhere
Abingdon United, Moneyfields (home to Larkhall), Bournemouth (away to Swindon Town), Winchester (home to Poole) and Wycombe (home to Worthing) are all in FA Cup action from SRWFL Premier Division, so the only league fixtures see Newbury host Woodley United a win by more than two for the home side will see them move back to top and Oxford City travel to Warsash. Neighbours Abingdon Town also continure their FA Cup run as they host Chesham.

Tomorrow's game kicks off at 2pm, remember it's free entry and the clubhouse will be open. We are expecting a good crowd so come along and show your support.