Sammy Rowland has been on fire for Hashtag United this season, with her performances drawing comparisons to Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
With 11 goals in four matches in the Women’s FA Cup, she is currently leading the race for the tournament’s Golden Ball.
The striker will be hoping to continue her goalscoring exploits against Coventry United in the fourth round this afternoon.
Hashtag United are flying high at the top of the National League South-East, while Coventry are rock bottom of the Championship. Just 13 league places separate the two teams.
The fixture is ripe for an FA Cup upset, and Rowland will be key to Hashtag United’s chances.
Rowland hit a first-half hat-trick in Hashtag United’s qualifying-round win against Bedford LFC, before scoring five more in their 10-1 first-round victory against Colney Heath.
She got another hat-trick as she helped her side beat Actonians 3-0, setting up today’s clash against Coventry.
Her tally of 11 goals tops the Golden Ball leaderboard – Ashford United’s Rebecca Wyatt has nine goals, and Sophie Slater of the Fleetwood Town Wrens has eight.
It's @VitalityWFACup fourth round day and @hashtagutdwomen go to Coventry United.
Striker Sammy Rowland is the leading goalscorer in the competition, which she's hoping can help her team cause an upset.
In total, Rowland has managed 27 goals in all competitions this season. Her goal scoring rate is similar to Haaland’s, who has hit the back of the net 31 times this campaign.
Rowland has achieved this despite missing the start of the season with injury.
“I actually tore my meniscus in pre-season, so I was out for the first month-and-a-half,” she told BBC Essex Sport. “I started late but hit the ground running really”.
“I got a steroid injection which lasts for about two months. I think it’s starting to wear off now, a bit of the pain is still there but I just power through it at the minute as it’s going well.”
𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗦 | 2022/23 Women's FA Cup
Sammy Rowland, @hashtagutdwomen, leads the way with most goals (11) in the race for the Women's FA Cup Golden Ball Award, to be crowned after the Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 14 May 2023. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gLkTxcUSgs
Originally AFC Basildon, the side merged with Hashtag United, a club set up by YouTube celebrity Spencer Owen, in 2020.
Buoyed by the extra attention and resources, the team are now top of the National League South-East with eight wins and one draw.
They also have a goal difference of +55, with Kelly Wealthall, Grace Gillard and Malika Apindia joining Rowland on double figures.
It is the first time Hashtag United have made the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup, and Rowland revealed she is hoping for an encounter against Manchester United if they go one step further.
“I’m a Man U fan, so Man U away at Old Trafford, that would be a dream,” she said.
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Was once mistaken for a famous volleyball player despite being 5ft 6in. When not celebrating or lamenting the latest Arsenal result, I’m more than likely writing or talking about women’s sport, particularly football and tennis.
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