Caley Thistle Women manager Karen Mason hopes her side can “restore pride” when they travel to Rossvale on Sunday.
The Highlanders missed out on a chance to close the gap on the top-half of the SWF Championship following their 5-2 defeat to Ayr United last weekend.
It means fifth-placed Inverness can no longer catch Ayr in fourth and their place in the bottom half of the table ahead of the league split has been confirmed with two games still left to be played.
Mason believes her side produced a well below-par display in the 5-2 defeat and wants her players to put it right against third-placed Rossvale on Sunday.
She said: “It was a disappointing performance and a frustrating one all round. We had a brief spell in the second half where we tried to pull it back, but the damage was already done.
“This weekend we’re very much looking to restore some pride against Rossvale.
“We need to pick our performances up again. We threw down the challenge to the girls about trying to secure fourth place, but the pressure hasn’t paid off for us.
“The gauntlet will be thrown down again for the players to up their game and really show what they’re capable of.”
Caley Thistle can’t drop lower than fifth – Mason
Inverness currently sit eight points clear in fifth and Mason wants her side to consolidate their position as the best of the rest ahead of the league breakaway.
She said: “The definite aim is to make sure we don’t slip down from fifth.
“We’ve cemented that position from about mid-way through the season, so if we were to drop any lower than that, it would be a bit of a disaster.”
TABLE | CHAMPIONSHIP
Here's how the #SWFChampionship table looks after last night's match up between Rossvale and Dryburgh. The Glasgow side move up to three points behind Renfrew and 11 points off the top with 12 still to play for. #BeTheDifference pic.twitter.com/3Z91dQwbwv
— SWF Championship (@SWFChampionship) April 20, 2023
The inaugural national Championship season has had highs and lows for Caley Thistle, but with the end almost in sight, Mason believes the remaining games can be used to prepare for the next campaign.
She said: “Building towards next season can be one of our aims now. We can start to prepare earlier than we would’ve if we were still in contention at the top of the table.
“It’s got to be the way we look at it and try to use this time to put some of the wrongs right ahead of next season and get some more consistency.”
The other north fixtures
In SWF League One, Westdyke will be looking to close the gap on the top three when they host St Mirren after slipping down to fourth in the table.
Grampian return to action after a fortnight’s break from fixtures on the road against Airdie, where the Torry side will be looking to increase their advantage in seventh to 12 points.
In the Biffa SWFL North, it’s a top of the table clash for second-placed Inverurie Locos as they travel south to Angus to play leaders Forfar Farmington. A win for the Garioch outfit would see them close the gap to three points.
At the other end of the table, basement side Buchan play East Fife away, while Westdyke Thistle make the short trip to Stonehaven.
Dyce will be aiming to move level on points with fourth-placed Huntly when they face Dryburgh Athletic at home, but the Black and Golds have a chance to move up to third with a win in their clash against Glenrothes Strollers.
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