Page 14 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.28 2022-23

The Division One South West title battle has
become a fascinating two horse race in recent weeks
and a run of fourteen wins in fifteen matches has
taken Exeter City to the top of the table, with
Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Swindon Town taking
them nine points clear.
Jess Sandland has been an important member
of the Exeter squad and she told us that the team
are keeping their feet on the ground and just
looking at the next game ahead, but also admitted
that promotion would ‘mean the world’ to the club:
WSS: Well done on another win on Sunday,
what was the team's performance like on
the day?
JS: Losing Emily (Toogood) early on and getting
used to the surface, we had an unsettled first fifteen
minutes, but as the game went on we became
dominant in possession. Set pieces proved to be
how we would unlock Swindon and then we only
left them with a few half chances.
WSS: That was your sixth win on the trot in the league - and indeed fourteen
victories in fifteen games - so is it now just a case of keeping things going in
your last couple of matches?
JS: Yes definitely, we want to finish the season off just as strong and give ourselves the
best chance possible for promotion.
WSS: Sunday was also your sixth clean sheet in a row, is that extra
important as goal difference could well be a factor?
JS: Keeping clean sheets shows how strong we are as a team at defending and gives us
the confidence to play our attacking football and increase our goal difference.
WSS: This week you play at home to Selsey, given the close match you had
with them last time, there will be no room for any complacency?
JS: No there definitely won’t be any room for complacency, we need to ensure that our
performance is consistent throughout the game.
WSS: It has been a great season so far for Exeter, did you feel ready for a title
challenge when the season got underway?
JS: We were always ready for a title challenge, that’s been our focus this season after
coming so close last year.
WSS: Cardiff made a powerful start and looked very strong but were you
always confident that you could catch them?
JS: Cardiff did make a strong start and have remained strong throughout the season, but
we have concentrated on one game at a time and as the season went on we grew in
confidence that we could catch them.
WSS: Have there been any unsung players amongst the team this season,
players who don't quite get the credit that they deserve?
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