Women’s Academy Technical Coaching Manager Nick Hardy and midfielder Grace Breen are aiming for a strong finish to phase one of the Professional Game Academy (PGA) League.
Our Women’s Under-21face Bristol City on Sunday (13 October) before concluding their league campaign with a visit from Southampton next Wednesday (16 October) with the Northern and Southern divisions then being split into two groups for phase two of the competition.
The top four from each section will be placed into Division One while the rest of the sides will be together in Division Two, with Hardy’s side needing a maximum of six points from the next two games to have a chance to secure their place in Division One.
Building preparations for the next two games, the Under-21s faced Eastern Region Women’s Football League side AFC Dunstable on Wednesday evening as goals from Mia Endacott, Rania Oukriss and Eloise Hall secured a 3-1 victory at Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt Football Club.
Reflecting on the win, Nick highlighted the importance of testing his players against senior opposition and building momentum ahead of our return to the PGA League.
“It was a good opportunity to make the most of not having a so-called competitive fixture and we were really selective in the opposition because facing a senior side presents a lot of different challenges; technically, tactically and physically,” he said.
“It was a chance for the girls to try and showcase the style we are embedding against a team that play competitive football week in, week out. I thought it was a really good level for us and I was really pleased with how the girls presented themselves and, ultimately, allowed us to get game time for a lot of bodies over the 90 minutes. All in all, a purposeful evening but also a pleasing one with the outcome of the scoreline.
Looking ahead to the next two games, he added: “It’s an interesting scenario for the players to have a three-game week. It’s challenging the girls with different types of games, different environments and just giving them the platform to finish the current campaign as strong as we can before heading into the international break.”
Grace, who has been a long servant in the academy, stepped up from the Under-16s to the Under-21s this season and the midfielder wants to use the strong display against Dunstable as a platform for the upcoming two games.
“It was a positive evening for us,” she said. “To face a team that don’t really, technically and tactically, match up with us was a good challenge to compete physically but also help us for our next two games, a big two games, as we need to win both if we want to be playing some good football over the coming months, so it was a good test.
“As a team, we thrive on challenging games and the tougher battles, so it was good to have a game here when we are in control for the 90 minutes, passing the ball around and getting used to it, as we will have different obstacles over the next two games, they will be more on the technical and tactical side, rather than the combative and physical side."
Asked on how the season has gone so far, she replied: “There has definitely been ups and downs with some games obviously being better than others, but we are all developing and learning so nothing will ever be consistent as we want it to be. However, we have plenty time as a team to learn, get closer and be more together, but the first couple of months have been really good.”