IT WAS a huge win for us at the weekend as we beat Bournemouth Sports 11-1 in the National League Cup.
It was a really positive reaction after the Moneyfields game, and I asked the girls for a reaction and to be ready, but also to be ruthless with it.
We wanted to be a little bit more clinical in front of goal, and to come away 8-0 at half-time, I said to the girls I was really, really pleased.
Each week, the next game is our most important game. They proved that going into half-time with 8-0.
So, I was really, really happy and still challenged them for more.
We were disappointed to concede in the second half, because we dominated so much and obviously the manner in which we conceded.
We always reflect on it and look at ways in which we can improve, whether we win, lose, or draw.
It was nice, especially on Sunday, to be able to utilise the squad and see what we wanted from our group, including some Development Team players.
No matter who we put out on the pitch, they're really starting to adapt to how we want to play on the ball and off the ball, and no matter what opposition we play, we know that whatever 11 we put out there and whatever 11 we finish the game, that they know what to expect from a tactical lens.
So, it's really pleasing to see the patterns, especially on Sunday, coming to fruition with that.
We move onto Lewes at the Dripping Pan, it'll be another tough game against them.
We know what it was like when we played them last season there, and it's not an easy place to go to.
But we're looking forward to the opportunity.
I've said we're not going to make it a banana skin game like we did last year, and we know how we want to execute the game, and we're going after that in training.
Already this week, the girls have picked up a lot of the pictures that we want to see, which again is really pleasing.
So as long as we do everything we can to put them in a good stead going into the game, then that's all we can do.
Reflecting on how games like the Lewes one panned out last season, we as a leadership group within the staff looked at it collectively over the course of the season, what went well, potentially what we overachieved and what we underdelivered.
We've learned from it, especially going into pre-season and also within the players that we recruited as well.
We've definitely reflected and I think the players who were here last season have learnt a lot, and the new players are still adapting and coming into what we're looking to go after.
But the mentality doesn't change.
Every game we want to go out and get three points, no matter who we're playing, and we hope to go and do the same on Sunday.
I went down to the men's first team game against Lincoln on Tuesday night, and I was pleased to see Marco Rose get his first win as boss.
I saw him on his second day, and he was the most welcoming guy to myself, really complimentary of the women's game and a real ally and supporter of it, which was really, really great.
To see how they've been doing in the league, they've had some tough games, but they're really looking to adapt to the way he's playing.
It was really nice to see that at the Lincoln game.
He's rotated, but it was nice to see what they were going after, and every single player was really trying to prove a point to get into his squad and his 11, and I've only heard really, really positive things about him in the group.
I'm sure in the next few weeks I'll be able to get in touch with him more and more as the season progresses.
I've just finished Carlo Ancelotti's podcast on leadership, and I've now started Sarina Wiegman's, which is really, really interesting about her career, and I'm currently when she's just won the Euros with the Netherlands.
I'm getting more and more into her book, but I've always been an avid fan of Sarina, and it's interesting to get to know her and hear about her from some of the players that she's coached.
If I can have half the career she's had, I will have a very successful coaching career!
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