The winter break is over and WSL 2 football returns this weekend with Charlton making the trip to  Ipswich Town on Sunday (2pm).

Karen Hills will be hoping for a much improved performance from the reverse fixture, a drab 0-0 draw in late September. Sunday's match pits the league's weakest attack (Ipswich - 9 goals in eleven games) against the meanest defence (Charlton - 5 goals conceded in eleven games).

The Tractor Girls are rooted to the bottom of the division with a paltry five points, three of which came against fellow strugglers Portsmouth. They have managed only one point from their last six games and  Manager Joe Sheehan has paid the price, leaving the club on Tuesday after a near seven year stint at the helm. Academy coach David Wright has stepped up to take charge of the first team for the rest of the season and it will be interesting to see if he implements any changes.

Karen Hills will be hoping her side are feeling refreshed after the break and ready to continue the promotion charge, The Addicks have largely been poor against teams towards the bottom of the division so this weekend’s fixture is a chance to change that. Our strikers have not been firing (only 15 goals so far) and the signing of Katie Lockwood from Glasgow City this week is an attempt to remedy the situation. The 27 year old played in the United States and Sweden before moving to Scotland and is "buzzing to be here". She went on:

"I have only been in the door a few days but it is clear to see what Karen [Hills] has built this year with her staff and her squad, there is a real buzz around the place and I am really excited to be a part of it."

Charlton's main rivals  - Bristol City and Birmingham - have tricky away games at Newcastle and Nottingham Forest so it wouldn't be out of the question for Hills's squad to have established an eight point lead at the top by Sunday evening.

Picture by Danni Fairbairn