Page 14 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2022-23

Durham Cestria have been in great form in recent months,
and Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough was their
eighth in a row in the league, a run which has taken them to
the top of FAWNL Division One North.
Captain Jen Knowles told us that the win was an
important one momentum-wise, and that the title race may
stay a close on in what is usually a ‘notoriously competitive’
division:
WSS: Well done on your win at Middlesbrough on
Sunday, another important result in your title
challenge?
JK: Yeah, another three points for the table. I think it was
important that we got the win to keep momentum going,
especially with Newcastle and Barnsley not having league
fixtures.
WSS: Did you always feel confident of winning the
game, until Poppy Pritchard's late goal made the
points safe?
JK: I did feel confident that we would win the game but at 1-0 up there's always that chance
that the game could change in a second. It was a bit of a relief to see that second goal go in
just to give us that bit of breathing space.
WSS: The win puts you four points clear at the top and was your eighth in a row
in the league, just how high is confidence amongst the team right now?
JK: Confidence is high, understandably, but we're not getting carried away with ourselves at
all. This is a very competitive league and all teams can take points from each other so we will
continue to just take each game as it comes and see where we are in May.
WSS: This week you will be up against one of your main rivals when you take on
Barnsley, how much are you looking forward to the occasion?
JK: It should be a great game, we played each other early in the season but we came away
feeling that we didn't give the best account of ourselves. We'll certainly be keen to put in a
good performance and hopefully put things right from the last game.
WSS: Have there been any players amongst the squad who are having good
seasons but perhaps don't quite get the recognition they deserve?
JK: I could praise a lot of the girls here but I think I'll go for Grace Mackie. She is someone
who has been outstanding in every game we've played, she's so consistent and contributes at
both ends of the pitch. I honestly don't think she realises quite how much she brings to the team.
WSS: Overall, do you think that the division been a stronger one this season?
JK: A lot of teams strengthened in the off season, it was very hard to predict who was going
to do what in the early part of the season. The Division One North has always been
notoriously competitive and this season has been no different.
WSS: Can you also see the title race staying as close as it has been so far?
JK: Who knows? Last season it went right to the wire between Newcastle and Liverpool Feds,
and it was very exciting to see how it played out. We've put ourselves in a great position at
the halfway point in the season, people probably didn't expect us to be where we are but from
within the club we've always had that belief that we can challenge up at the top of the table,
let's hope we can stay involved in that race.
WSS: You have played the likes of Huddersfield and Wolves in the cups this
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