A soggy weekend for most, but our Millworth Lane ground has such incredible drainage that it wasn’t just playable - it was a decent surface. Before the game I talked to the girls about needing to adjust their positioning based on the opposition. Just because we play a 4-3-3, doesn’t mean we can’t push forward as fullbacks, or step up and out in the middle of defence. In fact, those behaviours are critical - as they help the result of the team to avoid running around like mad people. The girls came out of the gate with their confidence soaring after a good win last week, immediately looking for little triangles to create space and overlaps. The Thatcham girls made a smart decision to force us to play into the sun in the first half - and it was definitely difficult. But with Sofia as a playmaking pivot, we were always going to be moving the ball quickly and attacking. She linked up with Sophie, Isla and Lu on the left side to repeatedly get behind the Thatcham fullback. On the right we were a little further up the pitch to start, but again linking Lyla, Ayla and Vicky, with Ayla dancing past defenders time and time again. I know she was struggling with a bit of a sore foot, but Meher kept driving at the defence, opening up space around her and putting in those diagonal through balls. We didn’t have too much to do at the back, but Elise and Karlina were assured, covering and playing out when things got squeezed in the middle. The first half should have seen us go in at half time about 5-0 up we were so dominant in possession. Unfortunately, our shooting didn’t quite match up with our passing and playmaking. Thankfully, we did go ahead early on - Ayla receiving a diagonal ball from Sofia, and to be honest, the goalkeeper made a bit of a mess of what could have been a relatively easy save. But that was all we got in the first half - and it was worrying, as this team came back earlier this season to beat us after we played better in the first half. Shots went wide, but mostly shots went straight at the goalkeeper, without enough venom on them to make her trip up.

Other than “be confident with your shots - put your foot through it” there wasn’t much more I could advise on for the second half. The girls played out from the back, pressed and covered well, supported in attacking positions - it just needed some goals. Thankfully, we got another five minutes after the break. This time Meher received from Sofia, and finished wide of the goalkeeper - leaving her no chance. At 2-0 you can just breathe a little more easily as a coach - but we had to keep pushing. Thatcham completely lost their shape - occasionally with 5 up front, and no one in midfield. But that meant that a good long ball would leave them with an overload and us potentially in danger. Thankfully, our positional play when Thatcham were in transition was very good. We weren’t letting the ball bounce in midfield - with Sofia taking the ball out of the air exquisitely at times. Even when it did bypass the midfield, Karlina and Elise were stepping forward to take away options and win the ball back. Our third goal was probably my favourite - simply because of the composure shown on the ball by all the players involved. Elise chose to push very high to cut out any chance of a break out. When she won the ball, she didn’t panic - instead you could see her look up, weigh up what to do, and put a beautiful ball in to Ayla moving forward. Ayla took the ball neatly across her body, checked her position, and cleanly finished low and wide of the goalkeeper. Pure class from both of them. Twenty minutes to go and 3-0 up, I wasn’t sure whether the floodgates would open, or whether we would lose concentration. As it happened, neither was the case. Thatcham kept trying to catch us out at the back - and if not for some good flagging by Nick, might have snatched a goal back. The other way, we continued to get close, but not quite able to break through. Meher hitting the bar probably the closest to scoring.

I may be critical of our shooting, but that’s partly because we were SO GOOD elsewhere on the pitch - and had we come away with an 8-0 win, no one would be saying it wasn’t a fair representation of the game. I said at the start that I was encouraging the defence to organise themselves to push up - left and right backs pushing forward and offering options in support and overlaps when the ball was out wide that side. In the middle, I want to see our centre backs push forward and receive the ball with time to drive into space, or pick out good passing options. That requires good communication and organisation - as the rest of the defence needs to adjust to cover… But I firmly believe the girls can do this. If you watch professional women’s football, the centre backs get a huge amount of the ball. Leah Williamson, Mille Bright, Alex Greenwood - or further afield Wendie Renard (Lyon) or Api León (Barcelona) - are playmaking defenders, who can all play in midfield if they wanted to. I’m not saying we’re at international standard, but that’s how the game is played - and if you try to play it that way, things actually get a little easier for everyone.

If I'm honest, the girls were a little quiet, but at the same time they also seem happy at the moment in their football. We talked a bit about communication at the end of the game - and I need help from all you parents to encourage your daughters to be loud and confident. It’s taken me several seasons to finally get Holly bellowing on the field - and it makes such a difference. Tell your teammates what they need to do, or how you are supporting them - it speeds things up, and takes things to the next level.

Girl of the game was Sofia. She was outstanding on the ball today - receiving, passing, dribbling was all fantastic, and it felt like we always had a chance when she got on the ball. I’m surprised she was still moving at the end of the game - she put a real shift in.

In her second game, Vicky slotted in just as well as last week, and has absolutely strengthened what was already a very good team. With a bare 11 players, we are a real handful for teams - so I’m looking forward to when we can make some impact changes during the game when Somaiya and Holly are fit and well.

This team is nowhere near peaking - it’s just a question of how they respond to the challenges in front of them, and how much they want to push themselves.