After an extraordinary 2-1 win versus a previously unbeaten Oxford United, Cheltenham Town Ladies are full of confidence and are ready to march on.
The Robinesses rocked the league leaders as goals from Issy Newns and Laura Holden ended the U’s unbeaten run and will now look forward to a tough test against fourth placed Watford, hoping to bounce back following their 6-0 defeat to the Hornets back in September.
Manager Tom Davies has been impressed by his side’s ability to bounce back after losing four of the first six games this season, but after defeating an unbeaten Oxford side he doesn’t want the players keeping it too long in their memories.
“It’s an important win. Oxford are a fantastic side we know that, but looking at the list of accomplishments, winning leagues, winning trophies, and going on unbeaten runs that we’ve been on are potentially more important.”
“Everyone can create results, from that everyone has the capacity to achieve those things. Beating Oxford isn’t necessarily history making, it’s an important win but it’s not something we’re going to put in our memory banks or history books.”
With Watford up next this Sunday, The Robinesses suffered a heavy defeat last time out at Grosvenor Vale but Davies reiterates that the squad’s good form what lead him into making any serious changes.
“I don’t think anything changes for us, we’re not going to change anything really were on good run, the staff are feeling good with how we’re getting our themes across, our principles across in coaching. They’ll be tweaks and adjustments. Of course, I’m hoping for a positive result having allowed them to put six past us last time.”
“No matter what the result we got on Sunday it was always about the performance and it will be the same this Sunday.”
“They’re the ones performing, putting there body on the line, coming back from Billericay which is a 14-hour day for us, going to work Monday morning, getting back into training Tuesday. They’re the ones that deserve the credit.”
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With the squad’s high morale and strong performances, Davies is stuck with a selection headache and is suggesting the difficulty of picking players for the starting 11.
“Unfortunately, it’s becoming difficult, from a managerial perspective its nice. We’ve got different players with different qualities. We came off the Billericay game with lots of colds, knocks and we had to train a bit differently, so selection was amended to reflect that.”
“This week’s been better, the tempo was high, the quality is good. When players are putting in strong performances and working hard it’s difficult to find a rational to change that, from my perspective I hope it keeps happening cause I keep having difficult decisions to make, cause it means we’re doing something right.”
Central defender and Former Bristol City under 21’s captain Holly Finch who signed for Cheltenham in the summer, came off injured against Oxford however Davies suggests there is nothing to worry about.
“She’s okay, she rang me Sunday evening after the post-match, and said she’s fine. It was just a bit of cramp, a bit of over-extension, she’s not played competitively for a long period of time.”
“She’s come on a trained well but the way Oxford were attacking was very intense, from a defending point of view she’s had to do a lot of work and after not playing week after week it’s just taken its toll.”
“We’re back to full capacity, which is positive and like I said it gives us selection headaches, which is important from a staffing point of view.”
Cheltenham play Watford this Sunday at the Coronium Stadium, where they look to leapfrog The Hornets into fourth and make it three wins on the bounce.