I was pretty pleased with this performance and result. It may have been a long way from our best, but we always looked like we could go up a gear or two if we really had to and we’ve found a new maturity and desire to keep the ball out of the back of our own net too.
We were a little bit untidy overall and didn’t quite get into our rhythm or stride, so we didn’t take advantage of many situations that we normally would, but it wasn’t something to be concerned about. It was just how the game panned out and sometimes football can be like that and you could sense our lot got a little frustrated, but at the same time, we showed good patience to make sure we took our opportunities when they came.
We also made a lot of changes to the side, so it wasn’t easy for everybody to just pick up where they left off as several of the ones coming back in hadn’t completed 90 minutes for some time. In that sense, it was a real success, as it will have done those players the world of good in terms of their fitness and confidence. And despite leaving some very good players on the bench, I told them I still expected us to win and cope without many problems.
The main problems we had in this match were with positioning across the park. The strikers were coming a little too deep and the midfield were often a little too far forward and at times that meant we suffocated our own play. We could have done a better job of spreading wide quicker and having the front two running beyond a bit more, so we congested our own work now and then but player to player, we were better than they were on an individual level.
But credit to Aylesbury because they tried to take advantage of the space and gaps we left whenever we were careless. They did try to play some nice stuff in the holes and little pockets of space we left open and I was impressed by that because there’s not many teams at this level that I’ve seen who are able to identify and seize on those moments. Our defence coped though and took care of all the dangerous moments that may have occurred before they materialised.
I also asked the players, particularly one or two individuals, to try and play more patiently and concentrate on taking a touch before distributing or kicking the ball. One or two of them have been prone to whacking the ball first-time and I was pleased to see them having a go at carrying out those instructions because I think it added to their performance and gave a little more quality to their play.
Vicky James scored the opening goal after bursting onto a through ball from the back and dispatching it with relative ease. That was her first strike since joining the club and she did well in midfield having filled in at centre-back for a couple of games. Allana Ashmeil then put the game beyond doubt in the second-half after racing through to fire in her 26th goal of the season. It was good to see her back in on the goals again.
But Amber Luzar was the pick of our players and was a class above on the day. She was excellent in defence, mopping up any danger before it arrived, keeping it simple when it mattered but also playing a pivotal role in starting most of our attacks from the back. Had we had one or two other players in that kind of form then we may have well won this by a lot more on the day.
Overall it was a job well done and I’m very pleased with the defensive performances of the team in the past few weeks because it’s giving us belief that we can shut out teams and that’s just one conceded in our last four games, which is much more like it!
I also have to give credit to the players for the result because on this evidence they still look hungry to win football matches and that’s important. Having won the League Plate and with only 2nd place at most up for grabs in the league, it’s easy to switch off, put your feet up and think the season’s over. But not here.
We’ve shown that we’ve got pride in ourselves and a respect for everybody else, which is admirable, and you can tell we just want to go out there and win as many games as possible. It’s the right attitude and that will bring us more success before the season’s out.
Team: Jessica Devoti, Alex Lupano, Nkechi Chukwueke (Scarlett Hanrahan), Melanie Randall, Amber Luzar, Sam Black (Chloe Julien), Natalie Worster, Kesleight Danielle Long (Jade Bowley), Vicky James, Kylie Worster, Jade Creighton (Allana Ashmeil)
Subs: Scarlett Hanrahan, Chloe Julien, Jade Bowley, Allana Ashmeil
Goals: James, Ashmeil
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