Oxford United Women’s top scorer Beth Lumsden has been gaining invaluable experience this week by joining the men’s side in training.
Beth, who has already scored ten goals in the Women’s National League, has been in great form for Liam Gilbert’s side and a chance conversation with Karl Robinson led to an invite to come and work with the Sports Science team and add a couple of extra training sessions to her week, as Karl explains:
“Earlier in the summer Chris Neville came in to the club to lead the Sports Science side of the whole club and one of the things we did was make the gym at the Training Ground available not just to the Women’s team but to the players in the RTC. That has worked really well and speaking to Beth she mentioned that she would like to do more if there was an opportunity. So provided it fits around her work commitments she comes in and joins in the warm ups and the non contact elements of training, then does a gym session then goes on to train with the Women’s squad as well.
“That is only going to help her in terms of fitness and experience and she has fitted in really well.”
Beth told us:
“It’s a lot quicker than I am used to and obviously they are a lot taller and stronger so it was tough getting into it at the beginning but I have really enjoyed it. It can only help me get better and everyone has made me feel very welcome.”
The midfielder will now turn her attention to the weekend when the Women travel to Fulham in the Women’s FA Cup
“We are unbeaten at home but have dropped points away so we know we can improve on that. Sunday is a different thing though: it’s the FA Cup, it’s away, but we are going to go there determined to get through and see how far we can go” she said.
Sunday’s game is at Motspur Park (Fulham’s training ground) with a 2.30pm kick off and should be a great cup tie: Fulham are 7 games unbeaten, United have won the last 4
@OfficialOUWFC will have all the updates on Twitter with a report and reaction right here after the game.
Meanwhile Oxford United Women have been drawn at home to Billericay in the second round of the Women’s National league Cup. The home league game v Southampton will be rearranged.