With their away schedule complete, and the need for travel therefore obsolete, the Islanders are now in the favourable position of finishing their debut season in the national leagues with a trio of fixtures at Les Ormes. A huge bonus given the closeness of Premier League 3.
| P | W | D | L | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1.26 | 61 |
| Ryland | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1.16 | 61 |
| Team Jets | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1.05 | 57 |
| Norfolk United | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1.1 | 56 |
| Cumberland | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 1.06 | 54 |
| Linden | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1.13 | 48 |
| Dudley Leisure | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0.96 | 43 |
| Falcons Black | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0.79 | 31 |
| Sussex Thunder* | 15 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0.9 | 30 |
| Loughborough | 15 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0.7 | 17 |
*2 pts deducted
After 15 games Jets sit third in the table – occupying the second, and final, playoff spot – and lie just one point ahead of Norfolk United in fourth, who visit next week. Perhaps a little too close for comfort, but a place at the 2014/15 Premier League playoff weekend is in their hands.
Three wins from three will guarantee Jets a shot at promotion to PL 2, and although Andrews admits points dropped by the likes of Kent and Ryland would be favourable (automatic promotion as champions is still a distant possibility), she has said her players can’t afford to look elsewhere.
‘These are all must-win games now if we want to achieve our aim of making the playoffs,’ said Andrews.
‘If anybody else slips up that is obviously a bonus, but we have to look at ourselves. We must stay focused on our own play and our own game and getting the result.
‘They do have four Loughborough Lightening squad players though, and National Performance League players as well. They have a very strong set-up, but we are ready for the challenge.’
With New Zealander Liz Haenga now settled and providing Jets with unparalleled experience in defence, Andrews also praised her players’ acceptance of a fresh approach.
‘Liz has come and given us new ideas, and it’s great that everyone is embracing that,’ Andrews added.
‘We’ve done a double session again this week and have worked very hard on our through-court strategy, so hopefully it will all come together.’
Haenga, captain Lauren Devine, Josie Le Masurier and youth player Ebony Troy have all been named and give Andrews options in defence, while Sophie Holmes and Lynsey Pitman look set to continue their glistening partnership in attack.
Lauren Devine, Josie Le Masurier, Ebony Troy, Liz Haenga, Lisa Luce, Nicole Goddard, Jacy Brown, Abbie Hazley, Sophie Holmes, Lynsey Pitman, Rosie Tonner.
