After last weeks dissappointing peformance and result we gave the girls a right grilling in training this week focusing mainly on good defending . The girls really took this on board and this was one of our best ever training sessions , all we needed now was the girls to take this onto the pitch against Arnold and deliver . The warm up was good before the game and the briefing was done , enough talking , go out there and do the business were my final words .

We started really brightly for a change and we were playing some great stuff , 2 or 3 efforts on goal , 1 of which from April hit the bar but no one following up . April had a special role today girl-marking Ella ( Number 10 ) who as we saw last week is a good player . April did this job magnificently and even found time to push forward now and again which helped us out up front . With Erin working hard and Rosie instructed to come inside whenever possible we were playing well , we just needed that first goal and 5 minutes before half time it arrived . Eloise had had several efforts / crosses already but this one counted as it nestled in the far corner of the net , great stuff .

The second half saw another tight 25 minutes but what goal mouth action there was was comfortably dealt with by both keepers .

So it finished 1-0 , just what the doctor ordered . We are level on points again with Arnold and its all in our own hands again .

 

Molly - excellent handling today , a couple of tricky crosses were dealt with very well

Orla - solid game at the back and impressed everyone , well done

Esther - monumental performance after shining in training yesterday . Esther is a joy to train as she is a very good listener and therefore improves every week

Eloise - back to your normal self today and capped off with a "Squeezer Special "

April - it was a tough ask for you today but you won the battle and played superbly well . You covered alot of ground and did your team proud

Rosie - you too worked very hard and cut in well a times and showed your class with some lovely turns and crosses

Erin - another lively performance up front Erin , you worried their defenders silly all game

Rian - a short burst up front but you looked good

Leanne - no game today but your time will come

 

So to summarise the whole team took on board all Pauls, Bryans and mine comments and went out there and delivered as requested . We focused heavily on defending in training and it showed being rewarded with a clean sheet .

My 2 players of the match were April and Esther although it wasn't an easy choice as you were all brilliant

We musn't rest on our laurels now , we need to play like that every week now . You have raised the bar again girls and I feel you have all learnt a great deal this weekend . Well done all of you for listening and being a pleasure to coach all weekend

 

Big thank yous to my superb coaching team , Paul , Bryan and James who also have shone this weekend and really put the effort in for you girls , thanks gents

Thanks as always to our fantastic fans who make the mornings all the more special , and to James for reffing and Jon for helping me set the pitch up , thanks boys

 

So its onto Ilkeston next week , lets keep this wagon rolling and do the business

 

Have a great week all and see you all at training next week.

 

Tim