DURHAM WOMEN goalkeeper Helen Alderson is hoping her side can ruin Sheffield FC’s party when the Women’s Super League 2 season gets underway tomorrow night.

Sheffield will make their WSL debut after winning promotion to the second tier last season, but despite Durham losing their opening fixture in each of their previous two campaigns, Alderson insists tomorrow’s visitors will be confident of bucking the trend.

Durham performed creditably as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to top-flight side Notts County in last weekend’s FA Women’s Cup fifth-round tie, and Alderson is hoping her team-mates carry their form into the league opener.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Sheffield,” said the former Sunderland shot-stopper. “I think they’ll be a tremendous squad, they’ve been together for a lot of years.

“They’re used to winning. They’ve earned the right to be in the WSL 2 by winning promotion last season. We’re fully expecting it to be a really tough game.

“They’re technically very good and very strong. It will be a great occasion for them. There will be a huge build-up for them. It will be a fantastic game to start the season with. We definitely want to spoil the party, and we’ll wish them well from then on afterwards.”

Sheffield were led by Mick Mulhern last season, but the former Sunderland Ladies boss was replaced by Zoe Johnson, and the club’s skipper, Carla Ward, is expecting a tough test against a Durham side that have successfully established themselves in the WSL system since their formation three years ago.

“We’re glad to be getting underway,” said Ward. “We know a little bit about Durham having played them twice in the past couple of years, and we’ve kept a close eye on them over the past few weeks.

“We know it will be a test. They’ve got experience and they’ve recruited some players in from Sunderland. But we’re looking forward to it and, for us, as the new girls, the pressure is off.”

* To buy tickets to an FA Women’s Super League match near you click http://www.ticketstores.co.uk/fawsl/