JERSEY FA Women are back on the road as they face Army FA Women in their own back yard this evening.
Chad Morris’ side come off the back of a victory over Kent last time out in the Southern Counties Cup, to bounce back resiliently from an opening match defeat at the hands of Middlesex, who currently lead the table with two wins from two.
However, behind them are Army, Essex and Jersey all on three points, with plenty on the line this evening at Aldershot Military Stadium.
When Jersey travel to face representative opposition, they venture into the unknown on each occasion.
The mainland counties can pick anyone from tier three and below in the English Women’s football pyramid, just a couple of steps below the Women’s Super League.
While the nature of the competition can appear quite daunting, Morris’ charges “embrace whatever challenge is thrown at them”.
The head coach said: “It’s very difficult to know what to expect.
“When we faced Middlesex, they had ten different starters to when we last faced them, so it’s an unknown entity each time we travel over.
“But I have to credit the girls. Their attitude is incredible.
“The want to be tested, and they want the challenge.
“They know it isn’t going to be easy, but they understand that opportunities like this competition will help them grow and become better players.
“We have to learn on the fly, quickly try to suss out their formation and how they play, where their strengths and weaknesses lie.
“Everyone in the Jersey camp loves that challenge and meets it head on.
“There is a great perspective from the girls. This is a new group from the end of last season and who was involved in the Cherry Godfrey Cup.
“With each and every game together, they are growing closer as a unit and we are seeing improvement.
“That’s the most important thing.”
Two of three goalscorers from the 3-0 victory over Kent in December are included in today’s travelling squad, in the shape of Aine Ruth and Tiffany Sundby, while veteran Sam Silva does not make the journey.
Bekah Pierce, who shone on debut last game as a tender 16-year-old is back in the squad, as the youthful side once again have plenty of fresh faces heading to the mainland.
Morris was very quick to praise the commitment of his players in representing Jersey in the Southern Counties Cup.
“It always blows me away how much these girls want to represent their Island,” added the coach.
“Just in the squad for tonight, we have Roisin [Flynn] getting the train from Liverpool John Moores University, Hannah Lynam from Bournemouth, Poppy [Benest] from Exeter, Leah [Morris] and Danny [Da Silva] from Brighton, Aine [Ruth] from Belfast and Sarah [Luce] from Southampton.
“The commitment to this team is exceptional and can sometimes go unnoticed.
“The pride they have in putting on the Jersey strip to play is incredible and, as a coach, I feel really lucky to have a group of players like that.
“We owe an awful lot to Lee from Ingram Advocates.
“Without his support, these girls wouldn’t have this opportunity to grow and play a high standard of opposition throughout the year.”
Action from Aldershot Military Stadium is due to start at 7.45pm tonight.
Jersey FA Women to face Army FA Women: Aine Ruth, Bekah Pierce, Danny Da Silva, Ella Brennand, Ella Docherty, Emily Le Page, Hannah Lynam, Holly Muirhead (c), Leah Morris, Poppy Benest, Roisin Flynn, Sara Luce, Sofia Rodrigues, Tiffany Sundby