ROZEL Rovers Women once again endorsed their title credentials, opening 2024 with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over visiting Jersey Wanderers.
An Ella Doherty brace, either side of the break, was added to by singles from Lucy Even and 16-year-old debutant Ma-Ya Larsson, who found the target ten minutes after being brought on as a second-half substitute.
It had been over six weeks since the last fixture in local women’s football, and this time Rovers avenged their Zenith Cup defeat to Wanderers in early December.
Manager Tim Pryor led his side to a landslide victory last campaign in the Women’s Division, with 11 wins from 12 league games and he said “trying to secure consecutive titles” has kept him and his squad focused into 2024.
“It isn’t always easy to build and keep momentum when there are large gaps between each fixture,” he said.
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“But I was really impressed with how well the team played after a while off the pitch.
“We now have three wins from as many games to start this season, so it’s nice to force the other teams to have to play catch up.
“After winning the title last year, we are all focusing on trying to retain our crown.
“As a club, we haven’t managed to do that before, so that’s something that keeps driving us forward.”
For the first time this campaign, Pryor had a full matchday squad at his disposal, being able to name a starting 11 with five replacements available.
The manager said: “It was really nice to have a full team out there.
“The competition for places is fierce and the more players we have pushing for spots, the better we will become as a team.”
On Larsson’s debut he continued: “Ma-Ya trained really well during the week, so there was no hesitation about getting her involved.
“Hannah Campbell is just back from injury, so it was nice to give her 45 minutes before giving her a rest.
“For Ma-Ya to come on for Hannah and score at just 16-years-old and only ten minutes into her debut was so pleasing.
“It was a wonderfully taken goal, with some really clever footwork to finish.”
Despite what ended up being a convincing victory for the hosts, it was Wanderers who started the better and created more chances of the two during the opening stages.
However, the Rovers back line stood firm and withstood the early pressure.
Just before the break, the home side had the lead through Ella Doherty’s long-range effort.
The lead was two shortly after the interval as teenager Larsson’s high workrate led to a chance, which she during buried with some clever footwork to create an opening.
Rozel began to assert their dominance and just ten minutes after doubling the lead, they made it three, with Doherty’s second of the contest.
Wanderers did not give in however, and stalwart Samantha Silva gave her side hope with 20 minutes to go, before Rovers’ Lucy Even slammed the door shut on 76 minutes to secure all three points and maintain her side’s unbeaten start to the 2023/24 campaign.
Wanderers will have an immediate opportunity to bounce back this weekend, as the host St Peter, with both sides looking for their first points of the young season.
