“Ideally we wanted the season done by April but based of lots of different reasons its been postponed,” explains Fensome.
Forest Green Rovers Women played their penultimate game of the season, a 1-0 away loss to title challengers Torquay United, on the 27th of April.
Due to some scheduling issues in the South West Regional Women’s Premier Division Rovers season will conclude on the 25th of May, four weeks later, with a home match against already relegated AFC St Austell.
“We have given players training regularly and that has helped us see the season out,” explained Fensome.
“Along with that they’ve been doing stuff off the field and in their own time and spaces to ensure they are fully prepared.”
The reverse of Forest Green’s final fixture was a dominant 7-0 win down in Cornwall. Striker Rhian Robbins opened the scoring, before an Erin Williams brace took Rovers three goals ahead.
Williams was able to complete her hat-trick in the second half, and Scotland youth International Tyra Wilson collected two goals from the bench.
📹 Erin Williams' shinning hat-trick in the sun! ☀️#WeAreFGR💚 pic.twitter.com/S7OhU5u7p6
— Forest Green Rovers Women (@FGRFC_Women) March 3, 2025
That resulted ended a run of 10 games without a clean sheet for Fensome’s side.
Despite the result game unable to effect Rovers early season title hopes, as they are mathematically out of the race, there is a clear message of the standards expected by the manager.
“Our playing philosophy has been the same all season so the players are fully aware and understand what we want from them as a group.
“It’s been really important for us to ensure the core group have stayed together throughout the season so we can go win that final game.
Such a long break between fixtures, when the season should have ended can have an effect on players dedication and external factors such as holidays influencing training.
“Any opportunity we facilitate an 11v11,” Feno explained, “we do small sided games to make sure players are still sharp and at standard with small touches and being creative.”
“The squad is fully prepared, we’ve had a long break but training and keeping the players involved has been the most vital thing, keeping their fitness up.”
Fensome believes her sides motivation is because of”Everyone plays football because they love it.”
“The more training and games there are is a positive thing in our eyes.
“The players have been engaged and bought into what we are at Forest Green Rovers and want to see it all the way through to the end of the season.”
Rovers will hope to finish their season on a high at Hartpury University as they look ahead to next season, with Fensome declaring: “We are confident we are fully prepared.”
