St Roch’s return to league duty this Sunday when they head off to face the experienced opposition of second placed Blackburn Ladies. Having won three of their opening five league games, Blackburn are off to a strong start but their loss to Westerlands B at the weekend has perhaps knocked them a bit off track. That said, St Roch’s will not underestimate them given that Blackburn are experienced campaigners who enjoyed a strong season last year.
For their part, St Roch’s will again be looking for the type of organised and disciplined performance from their midfield and defence, which has made it difficult for teams to break them down. Of course every good defence needs a quality keeper behind them that they can have confidence in, and the Candy stopper, Nicolle Andrews, (picture attached) more than fills that requirement.
A former Scotland U-17 and U-19 internationalist, Nicolle (picture right) is the sort of keeper that strikers hate playing against. Her experience, confident performances and guidance to team mates visibly lifts the players in front of her, and helps them to work extremely well as a unit. Nicolle will be a key player in determining how far the fledgling St Roch’s team progresses this year.
Alongside Nicolle, the team’s skipper, Kate McManus, (picture left), will have a huge role to play for the squad. Her strength and pace is regularly demonstrated when sitting in her familiar centre back role, although in recent games she has also enjoyed assured performances in a holding midfield role and some of the team’s best attacking work has been built off the back of her lively performances in midfield. That said the ladies best attribute is the team spirit which has been built up across the squad. 
Game after game it has become increasingly obvious that this is a united squad who all support and play for each other. The team determination not to be beaten has already brought them through some tough fixtures against experienced opposition, and will undoubtedly take them far in their inaugural season.
Reported by The Juniors Info
Pictures: St Roch’s Ladies
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