South Shields Women head coach Alex Miller and club captain Natalie May have spoken about all things Shields ahead of the end of season run-in.
With just six games left of the season, Shields find themselves five points off the pace from leaders Spennymoor Town Ladies, but given the nature of the league a string of healthy results could bring them back into the mix.
Get your copy of The Mariner, the award-winning match programme, for more questions and answers from the leadership pair this Saturday!
Is there a standout moment which you’re most proud of so far as head coach?
AM: “I’m always proud of the lasses but the Sunderland West End game is definitely the stand out game for me.
“My first game in charge, the lasses put their faith in me and well and truly put on an excellent show against a difficult opposition. I wish we could have bottled up the feeling within the team that day.
“Our most recent game against Hartlepool made me extremely proud too. The mentality shown by the full team to come back after a devastating defeat against Spennymoor is first class.”
While the Spennymoor defeat a few weeks ago hurt, the team’s reaction after that must have been pleasing for you to see?
NM: “After a positive win and brilliant performance over Sunderland West End, it was devastating to lose against Spennymoor.
"We were far from our best when we played them and we agreed that as a team, we knew we had to pick ourselves up and bounce back away to Hartlepool, which I believe we did, and come away with a 5-2 win away from home which was great.
“Our main focus is making sure we keep the consistency and give 100% with the remaining games we have.
“Becki McMahon and Megan Archbold are massive misses within the team and we all hope to see them back in a Shields shirt soon!”
What are your aims for the team heading into the final weeks of the campaign?
AM: “It’s an extremely tight league this year. We’re taking each game as it comes and focusing on the task in front of us before thinking of anything else.
“Every game is as important as the next and we most certainly can’t take anything for granted at this point.
“Promotion would be fantastic. However, realistically we know we’ve made it hard (but not impossible) for ourselves to achieve it this season.
“We’re striving to be the best we can in what we do, so whatever the outcome, we are setting ourselves up to be in a good position by the summer.”
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With six games remaining in the season, Shields trail leaders Spennymoor Town Ladies by five points; but, because of the nature of the league, a run of strong performances might vault them back into contention. doodle games