Burnley’s unbeaten North West League Premier Division run included an amazing 5-5 draw but they recently slipped further behind the leaders with a first loss at Bolton Wanderers. Manager and Chairman, Kristian Jones, told us more.
SK: Your perfect start was ended with a couple of draws, how did you feel about the 5-5 scoreline?
KJ: The 5-5 [v City of Manchester] was an obscure score, it also came off the back off a 2-2 with Bolton, with their keeper scoring an injury-time equalizer. This particular game, the defence struggled to cope with an opposition forward who scored 4 of their goals. It was also the first game that we had moved to a 3G pitch and we struggled on that surface. Having said that, we were actually 5-4 down going into injury time at the end of the game and Becky Hayton – our striker – got the equalizing goal. I was very pleased with how we had shown the mental strength to make sure we got the equalizing goal and ensure our unbeaten run continued. This result was very much unexpected, as only four teams have managed to score more than one goal past us all season.
SK: Will you be needing to beat runaway leaders Crewe twice to be able to catch them?
KJ: Yes, if we are to catch them now we would need to win all our remaining league games, which is a huge ask. Personally, I believe we need to aim for top two this season and then aim for the title next year. The club is in need of some upgrades in the infrastructure and I believe it will take me this first season to get this in place to have a real go at the league. Having said that, we are in a position where we can win our games in hand and ensure that we put pressure on the top two if there is a slip up. There have been huge changes in the team from last year throughout the squad and club. Last year we finished fourth and anything above that will signal our highest ever finish as a club and that is my ambition this season, to show an improvement on last season and hopefully win a trophy.
Pictured – Taylor Gregson tackles, Becky Sidley looks on.
SK: Has the squad changed much from the one that was among the chasing pack last season?
KJ: Yes, massively, there was a huge influx of players as well as players leaving us, we have several players that have gone on to football scholarships in America. However, we have strengthened thanks to the contacts of our captain Jo Holt, who has been massive in keeping this club at the level it is. I have continued to add a few new faces throughout the season. We now have a very good squad, however, I have not managed to play the same eleven in any consecutive games, which has been our downfall in getting a stabilised team this year. As well as this, all of last year’s coaches have left, so both our first team and senior development squad have new managers and coaches in place. We have also suffered long term issues to our goalkeeper, left back, right back and winger, which has caused disruption to the team.
Pictured – Jo Holt and Taylor Gregson talk tatics.
SK: Have any player(s) performed beyond expectation this term?
KJ: We have had a few big performers. Taylor Gregson was a full back last year but I moved her to centre half this season, where she has played superbly. She is a great ball winner and excellent athlete. Last season’s goalkeeper left and I decided to promote an 18 year-old called Karly Bland, who has shown massive improvement from the first day of pre-season up until now. She has really earned her place and now doesn’t look out of place in our starting 11. Last of all is Lizzy Hamer, she was a new signing in the summer and has been outstanding so far this season. I have asked her to fill various roles in the team throughout the season and she has excelled wherever I have asked her to play.
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