County Cup finalists and a fourth placed finish last time around, Mansfield Town Ladies manager, Andi Bell, is urging a near, new-look side, to take the next step this season.

They’ll begin, this Sunday (3 September) with a home game against Anstey Nomads, and, with a new captain leading the way, Bell naming Chloe Hutsby over the summer following the departure, to Barnsley, of Amy Dawson, Mansfield need to start as they mean to go on.

“We’ve had nightmare, opening games, since I’ve been here,” admitted Bell ahead of the new campaign.

“They (Anstey) are a strong, difficult side to face, and we know that from last season.

“Every season though, in this league (East Midlands Regional Women’s Premier Division) is stronger than the last, we just need to go out there and put an early stamp on proceedings.

“With that in mind, we need to be pushing for promotion, as usual, although we know that there’ll be no easy games, so consistency will be the decider.”

Following on from the visit of Anstey in the season opener, the Lady Stags face back-to-back away trips in their next two outings, at Grimsby Town (10 September), and Basford United (17 September), before their first, real acid test, when they welcome last season’s runners-up, Lincoln United in early October.

There’s also the small matter of cup matches to take care of, Mansfield having been drawn again Leicester City Ladies, at home, on 24 September, in the opening round of the EMWRFL League Cup, whilst the County Cup has seen both the firsts, and development side at Mansfield, receiving byes.

At the end of last season, Andi Bell’s charges narrowly fell to league champions, Notts County, in the Notts FA County Cup final, former captain Amy Dawson having given the Lady Stags an interval lead, County rallying in the second period to claim a come-from-behind, 2-1 win.

That was back in late May, with Bell naming the following, starting eleven for the game – Vanessa Kinnerley, Monica Bowley, Chloe Hutsby, Georgina Beckwith, Maia Taylor, Mathilda Evans, Victoria Chincharo, Gabriella Foulkes, Millie Edwards, Amy Dawson, Tia McDonagh

It’ll soon be time for them to go again, both in the County Cup, and embarking upon other cup challenges, Bell adding of those: “Our path to the County Cup last season was a difficult one and we were just undone in the end.

“We acquitted ourselves well on what was a difficult pitch, and the game came a good month or so after the season had actually finished.

“We’d love more cup runs though, irrespective of the competition, and I do feel we need to take another run at the County Cup, as well as the (Vitality Women’s) FA Cup; it’s something you relish, and it will be a focus for us this season.

“It’s a season that, although we’re decent defensively, we need to convert chances more in the attacking quarter.

“That’s something I want from throughout the team, attack more, convert more chances which we do create, and build on last season.”

As for promoting the 2023 Ladies Player, and Players Player of the season, Chloe Hutsby to captain, Bell added: “She was a pivotal part of the squad last season and I only see that importance growing with this new role.

“As well as being a quality player, she is an excellent example to the whole of the senior squad on how to conduct yourself both on and off the pitch.

“She leads by example and always gives 100% whether it be in training or during games and know she will apply this philosophy to her captaincy too.

“She is a great role model for the younger players within our squad as well as for the girls within our junior ranks.”

Mansfield Town Ladies begin their season with a home game against Anstey Nomads, on Sunday 3 September; keep up-to-date via their socials on Facebook here and Twitter here.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Mansfield Town Manager Andi Bell.