We spoke with manager of Pontypool-based PILCS, Richie Jeremiah, after his side sent Cardiff Met to their first defeat of the season in the Welsh Premier League Cup semi-finals on January 24th.
SK: How did you feel ahead of the match, considering two heavy league losses to Cardiff Met?
RJ: We were quietly confident even though Cardiff Met had beaten us just 7 days before 6-2. We had a game plan, we changed one or two things from the week before, we knew if we stuck to the new tactics and had faith in one another, we had a great chance of reaching the final.
SK: Was it more than you could have hoped for, to go in 3-0 up at the break?
RJ: Of course being 3-0 up at half-time was more than what we expected. However, it was nothing less than we deserved through brilliant finishing and dedicated defending. We definitely knew the job wasn’t done at that point though.
SK: Were there any nerves when Met pulled one goal back?
RJ: Maybe a couple at the time, but looking back now our keeper only had to make one real save after the goal and was probably the cleanest player coming off the muddy pitch, which says a lot about how we defended!
SK: How excited are you to be in the final?
RJ: We are really excited as a club to reach the final again, it’s an amazing achievement for this small club really, with all what we have to compete with and against! It will be a great occasion for all involved and we are sure to be taking a big following of green army supporters with us to see us hopefully defend our league cup!
SK: Can this help give a lift to your league campaign?
RJ: The result and thought of a cup final will definitely give us the boost we needed to keep working hard to improve our current league position. It will also put a message out to teams that PILCS Ladies are still capable of beating anyone on our day!
Pictured – The recent league meeting between Cardiff Met and PILCS. (Photos: Rob Wilkins)
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
