“So Sunday we took the short trip from Gornal to Darlaston for the league game. Darlaston are sitting mid-table with the first few games for them playing teams in the top part of the league and we know we don't take any team in this league for granted whether they are top half or bottom half. After the ref cancelled at 12.20pm it meant that we needed a ref for this game to go ahead and both teams wanted the game on. Fair play to Darlaston after endless calls from the manager, to refs they got one, so game on!

“We knew we needed to be on it from the start as I say in every game we go there and give 110 % and fight for the points. Today was the first time we did not get going at all and the ladies will agree with that. We just could not get going at all, but we had plenty of the ball but it was just not happening, we seemed flat and just not ourselves. We changed the formation early in the first half to try and up the tempo which we did seem more confident and looked like the team who was going to score, and then it came, the break we needed and it fell to the team captain Libby to beat the keeper from short range to take us into half time 1-0.

“Second half was very much the same but one thing is we are a team that won't give up and we had a couple of chances but unusual for us we just did not test the keeper too much and when we did she did the saves to keep them in the game. The ladies saw the game out and got the 3 pts, and I said, if we can go away and not play to the ability we know we can but still come home with 3 pts then we are doing something right.

“Our player of the match today went to Louisa French, Lou has been here at Gornal from the start of setting the team up and has grown so much in her confidence and ability, she absolutely was on it today as she had a tough task with Darlaston winger but she dug in and do great to stop more or less everything from that side, so she fully deserved the player of the match which the ladies all agreed with.

“I just want to give credit where credit is due. I want to say Darlaston did not give up in their game and had a few long range efforts that came close, but with them only having 11 players fair play to them for giving us a game, and the manager, who had to run the line.

“I also want to say thank you to all those who came to support the ladies today it's really appreciated from myself the coaching staff and the players.

“We now move our attention to the game on Friday night, away to Walsall 1st team at the Bescot stadium in the Birmingham Vase round 1. This will be a game where we will go and give our all, as we do in every game we play. Your support has been great so far this season and I got a feeling there will be a good crowd there, so get your tickets and get behind these ladies.

“Thank you”
Stu