Continental cup draw

Although the start of the WSL season is still several months away, preparations for the new season continue apace. Yesterday the draw was made for the Continental cup (The WSL's answer to the league cup) The format for the competition is the same as last year. The eight sides are split into two groups of four. Each side plays the others in their group with the top two from each section advancing into the semi finals. The semi's are hosted by the group winners, with the final played at a neutral venue; in last years case Barnet's Underhill stadium.

Unusually for a competition that uses a group format, there is no seeding system. Naturally this leads to a great probability of a "group of death" and that is exactly what we got in Group One.

Group One

Lincoln Ladies

Arsenal Ladies

Bristol Academy Women

Birmingham City Ladies

Group Two

Chelsea Ladies

Doncaster Belles Rovers 

Everton Ladies

Liverpool Ladies

Group One is pretty much as hard as it gets, whichever way you look at it. Firstly you have the two sides who finished in the top two places in the WSL in 2012. Not only that but the two clubs also won all three of the trophies available last time out. It has also reunited the four sides who all made the semi finals last season. In 2012 Lincoln and Bristol topped their groups which underlines how tough this group will be.

From a Lincoln view point there are fascinating subplots to each game which will keep headline writers busy. First up we have Arsenal; who Lincoln not only beat in the group stage 4-3 in dramatic fashion but gave them plenty to think about in the league encounters last year recording a 3-3 draw at Lincoln and a narrow 1-2 defeat in London. Then we have Birmingham City; the side who knocked Lincoln out at Lincoln in last years semi final in a game that the Lady Imps didn't really do themselves justice. Then to complete the trio of opponents we have Bristol. This match will see the Imps come up against a familiar face in the Bristol ranks in the form of Lucy Stainforth who recently made the switch from Lincoln to Bristol.
I expect this group to be incredibly tight and it could well go down to the final round of matches. In such a tight group like this home advantage will be vital. As you only play each club once it means some sides will play one home game and others two. At the time of writing this it has yet to be determined as to who plays who where, but this could have a huge factor in who advances.
Although you can make a case for all four sides going through i have a feeling that the key match in this group will be the Lincoln v Birmingham clash. If i could cherry pick the fixtures this would be the one i would like at home most. If you were to force me into a prediction i will got for Arsenal and Lincoln in Group one with Chelsea and Liverpool emerging from Group two.This would then give Lincoln a semi final with our old chums from Chelsea.Get through that and its a Lincoln v Arsenal final.

Let battle commence.

Former Imp Lucy Staniforth takes a corner against Arsenal in last years 4-3 group stage win for
the Lady Imps over Arsenal.