by Grant Fisher, First Team manager and Director of Ladies and Girls Football

Picture of Laura Gough (c) MiraclePR

We knew going into this game that we could extend our unbeaten run to three and keep the momentum going in the second half of the season. On the back of a great result last weekend against the league leaders, it was crucial we didn’t slip up today.

It was really important we didn’t let the win from Southampton get to our heads but also important that we embraced and let ourselves take a huge confidence from this result so the message was really clear: go and deliver another three points today and push us into fourth in the table and the ladies duly delivered. 

Kicking against a strong wind first half, we did incredibly well to deal with it and found ourselves 1-0 ahead when Sarah Stacey added her 21st of the season after just five minutes. 

Laura Gough (pictured) then got in on the act and added the second around ten minutes later after Jana Richards broke through and slotted the ball for her to stroke it into an open net. Stacey then completed her 22nd goal of the campaign, and our third goal of the game, as we went into the half time break 3-0 ahead with Poole very rarely threatening and anything they did swept up by Abi Bond, Jodie Chubb and Alex Sheppard and dealt with accordingly. 

In the second half we had to contend with having the wind behind us which brings its own problems. It isn’t always as easy as people think and we were pretty wasteful in both halves at times. It took two headed goals to add to the tally with Shepherd first getting her second goal for the club. 

Then Gough adding her second goal of the game and her 13th of the season with a fine looping header over the goalkeeper.

Overall we know we still have improvements to make and we know that we aren’t the finished article but what we do know is we can more than hold our own at this level. 

These ladies have had an incredible season so far against the odds on many occasions and now we have a week off from the league to go and enjoy a cup semi final at St James Park, Exeter City F.C. on Sunday. The winners will face Plymouth Argyle in the final on April 12th. Exeter will be a tough side to beat on the day and we know we have to be at our best. It’s a day we haven’t spoken about a lot and now it’s time to focus on getting another job done and another game won.