As Oxford United Women prepare for the Women’s National League restart this weekend, young winger Carly Johns reflects on her positive start to the season and her excitement to return to action against Keynsham.
“I think that it is really important to have the right mentality going into the game on Sunday purely because we have had such a long break. We are all raring to go again, and I’m pretty sure that Keynsham will come out all guns blazing so we will have to deal with that.“ she told Jacob Gill.
"We’ve been sent fitness programmes which we have completed over the lockdown period, and I think that we are properly prepared to be back playing in front of the fans, where we will just play our own game and hopefully pick up the wins again.
“It’ll be amazing to play in front of our own fans again, to have their support and to prove that we are deserving of a place at the top end of the table.”
It was Carly’s goal which kicked off The U’s' positive start to the season away at Gillingham, and the winger believes that United’s smooth start to the campaign helped to propel the team to the summit of the league table.
“I think we played really well as a team that game, and also to score that first goal, it was a great achievement for me. Seeing as I’m one of the youngest players here, it was a surprise, but I think we all performed well and the wealth of chances we created was really promising going forwards into the next few games afterwards."
The focus is now firmly set on maintaining the good performances which United put in before the break in fixtures, as Carly has also spent much of lockdown helping out with the RTC to inspire the next generation of women’s footballers.
“It feels great because obviously I developed through the RTC, so to have an impact on those girls just feels really good - giving them hope that one day they will be in the first team like I am, to prove that they can be good enough.
“My personal aim now the season is back underway is mainly just to work hard, to focus on my game and also to help the team to improve and earn the wins that we deserve.”
Supporters can watch Carly in action this Sunday at 2pm as United take on Keynsham Town at Court Place Farm. Tickets for the game can be purchased online HERE.