Livingston Women’s goalkeeper Charlotte Ferguson believes the club’s start to the campaign shows they’ve taken steps forward in their second season.
The Lionesses sit second in the revamped SWF Championship after seven games - trailing Renfrew only on goal difference after each team has played every other side once. In their inaugural season last term, a disappointing final few games saw them fall out of the promotion race.
But they've bounced back in style so far and Ferguson admits their ability to pick up points when not at their best will stand them in good stead throughout the course of the season.
Speaking to the West Lothian Courier, she commented: "The league’s wide open and it can only make for a really interesting season.
“If you offered us this position after the first round of fixtures, I think we’d have all been happy with it but we know that we can play better football.
“That’s one thing we’ve really shown this season that was maybe lacking before. We’ve shown a huge about of bite and dig in our games so far, with Sunday’s win against Morton being a great example. Maybe it’s just a case of being a bit more street-wise but we’ve definitely had a positive transition from year one to two.
“We’ve learned a lot from last season and I think we’ve taken it on board."
She added: "It’s largely the same team, although we’ve made some very good signings, but the core is still there and the coaching staff deserve huge credit for us taking the steps forward that we have done and added a different side to our game.
“You’re just not going to be able to play terrific football every single week and we’ve found ways to win when that’s not been the case. That can make all the difference over the course of a season."
While things are rosy on the park, the goalie says they are off the park too, adding: "It’s just a great place to be and play your football. You enjoy coming into training because it’s a great environment.
“We’re all one big group - the players, the coaching staff and the backroom staff like the media team. They’re instrumental in creating a professional environment and also having that link with the men’s side which has given us opportunities like sponsorship and use of the gym that wouldn’t have been there."
It's a break in league action this weekend, though, as they host Falkirk in the SWF Championship and League One Cup on Sunday. Falkirk are currently sitting third in the fourth-tier SWF League One and while Ferguson admits it's not a tie that will be taken lightly, she's hoping some of the club's fringe players will be able to take to the park.
She said: "Everyone wants to go on a cup run and win trophies and that’s our aim.
“We want to win the game, obviously, but if there’s opportunity to get game time into some folk who have maybe been unlucky then that’s brilliant.
“They’re so instrumental to the club but we’ve got a big squad and there’s real depth. The coaching staff must get headaches every week trying to pick a team. It would be great to see some of them get rewarded because they work incredibly hard in training."
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