Monbulk Rangers coach Quenten Wells was pleased with the club’s first ever win in the Women’s Premier League, declaring he wants his team to continue moving forward every week and tick off more achievements.
Speaking after the Rangers come from behind 3-2 win against the FFV U17s, Wells felt his team were sucked into the development side’s game plan as the youngsters threatened to run riot in the first half.
But scoring just before half-time helped the Rangers, with the goal giving them belief they could go on to win the game.
“I just thought we didn’t play smart enough in the first half,” Wells said.
“We gave away the ball far too much – we were more concerned with what they were doing rather than concentrating on our basic skills and our structure, our rules, and instead of sticking to them we let them dictate to us.
“They’re a talented squad, the elite in the state but they’re only under 17s and there’s a lacking of experience there, and they shouldn’t be able to dominate a game over us like they did in the first half.
“But to the girls credit they fought on and the key was getting that goal before half-time.
“It really lifted the girls and showed them they were capable of taking the three points if they lifted their game – getting our first points in Premier League is a good feeling.”
Monbulk’s saviour on the day was Nikki Ceeney, who notched up a stunning brace, with her first goal a looping half volley, and the second a crisp strike across her body into the far post.
Wells praised the midfielder’s overall contribution to the game, who has now also scored three goals in two games.
“Not bad for a defensive midfielder!” Wells said.
“The second one she hit today, she just caught it sweetly and it was fantastic.
“She’s hitting them alright at the moment and that was probably her best game today as well.
“When she came on, she just added some experience out there, someone who was chatting and giving direction out there and she imposed herself physically too, she put a couple of tackles in and showed the girls that was the way to go and lead from the front.”
While Monbulk may have recorded the win, they’re still lacking a cutting edge up front.
All four of their goals this season have come from midfield, but despite the concern, Wells believes the goals from the forwards are on their way.
“We’re working hard in training and the girls that are playing up front, they’re capable of scoring goals,” he said.
“I think it’s just a matter of sticking one away and getting the confidence to go on with it.
“Once they get one, especially McKillen up front, once she scores her first one I think she’ll get going.
“It’s just a matter of breaking that first duck as first game we didn’t score a goal, second game we got our first goal in Premier League, today we picked up our first three points.
“That’s another first off, we’ve ticked a lot of things off the first three weeks now and it’s just moving forward and a big challenge after Easter in taking on Box Hill on our home turf so it doesn’t get any easier that’s for sure.”