Women's FA Cup final preview: Chelsea v Notts County

Chelsea and Notts Couty have never won the women's FA Cup before. Credit: PA

Wembley Stadium hosts the women's FA Cup final for the first time this weekend as last season's beaten semi-finalists, Chelsea and Notts County, battle for silverware.

Neither side has won the trophy in its 44 year history, County have never even reached the final before while Chelsea were cruelly beaten by Birmingham following a penalty shoot-out in 2012.

Interest in the female game has never been greater thanks to England's impressive World Cup campaign earlier this year, and Saturday's showpiece event will be played in front of a record tournament crowd.

Laura Bassett's heartbreaking own-goal in the semi-final against Japan ended England's hopes of World Cup glory, and she lines up for County on Saturday looking for redemption against her former club.

Ironically, it was defender Bassett who captained Birmingham to FA Cup final victory against Chelsea in the 2012 final, before swapping clubs the following summer and joining County earlier this year.

Saturday's final isn't an easy fixture to predict, despite the bookies suggesting Chelsea are clear favourites at 5/6, and offering 3/1 for a County win within 90 minutes.

Only three points and one place separate the two teams after nine matches of this season's Women's Super League, and their last meeting in March was settled by just one goal in Chelsea's favour.

Carly Telford is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder. Credit: PA

Seven members of England's 2015 World Cup squad are expected to feature on Saturday, but goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain, a recent County loan signing from Arsenal, is ineligible for selection.

In fact, the Nottingham based club head into the final with something of a goalkeeping crisis after seeing their request for an emergency loan turned down by the Football Association this week.

It means Carly Telford is their only option between the sticks and may have to start despite only recently dislocating her shoulder. It remains a possibility that an outfield player will start in her place if Telford doesn't recover in time.

County have scored 12 goals en route to the final, conceding once against Aston Villa, while Chelsea's back line has also been breached just the once, despite tricky ties against Arsenal and Man City.

Coverage of the Women's FA Cup final is live on BBC One from 2.45pm on Saturday 1st August.