Merewether coach Cassie Koppen said United needed “to pick up our game” when they host Mid North Coast in round 13 of Herald Women’s Premier League on Sunday.
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United play Mid North Coast after their first loss of the season, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of defending champions Warners Bay last round.
But a win at Myamblah Oval on Sunday would elevate Merewether back on level terms with league leaders Warners Bay, who have the bye this weekend.
“We’re a top-two team and everyone wants to beat you, so we have to pick things up a bit,” Koppen said.
“In the past two and a half years we’ve developed that winning mentality and have changed everyone’s perception of Merewether, now we’re expected to win and that’s something we’ve got to deal with.
“We need to learn how to adjust and to control our emotions on field if things aren’t going our way and that’s something we’ll be working on through the back half of this season.”
Koppen was expecting a desperate Mid North Coast, who will be keen to consolidate fourth place with a win.
Meanwhile, Adamstown will be determined to mark captain Clare Cummings’ 100th WPL appearance for the club with a win when they play Thornton at Adamstown Oval on Sunday.
Rosebud will get an added boost for the occasion with proven strike weapon Lauren Allan set to take the field after returning last month from the United States, where she is studying and playing college football.
Allan scored 25 goals for Adamstown in 16 appearances in 2015 then six goals during an eight-game stint last season.
South Wallsend and Wallsend face off at Walker Fields in a match expected to have plenty of feeling.
Both sides will be at full strength for the first time in a number of weeks and both need to win to stay in the mix for a top-four finish to the season.
