Schillaci reflect on friendly loss to Super League 2 rivals

Jenna Schillaci says Spurs Ladies can be “happy” with how they matched Women’s Super League 2 opposition Watford Ladies in their behind closed doors friendly defeat.

It’s a feat they’ve managed twice now after outshining Brighton and Hove Albion in the Women’s FA Cup fourth round earlier in the season – and although a tightly-fought 2-0 reverse wasn’t the desired result this time round at Vicarage Road, the captain touched on perspective.

Schillaci said: “It’s not the result wanted, but I think performance-wise we played really well. We competed against them – we just lacked in the final third. Overall I think it was just the small details that cost us.”

The reserves, like the first team, completed a league and cup treble this season and the long-serving centre-back waxed lyrical about the maturity of the young Lilywhites for the manner in which they matched their counterparts.

Schillaci added: “The young girls that came in did a great job. It just shows that the gap between what we’re playing in now to the Super League isn’t that big – and it just does come down to small little details.

“I didn’t think you could tell the first-team from the reserves team. They’ve been working hard and have done tremendously well this season. Credit to the coaching staff – and when we play them in training the standard is just so high.”

Karen Hills’ side take to a London derby in their penultimate game of the campaign, against West Ham United, a team they’ve already beaten three times this year – in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup, Boux Avenue Cup and in the league at White Hart Lane, by an aggregate score of 17-1.

And Schillaci says with the play-off for promotion to the WSL 2 on the horizon, Sunday will serve as an opportunity for mental and physical focus.

She added: “It’s our last league game and we’ll be using it to carry on our momentum from the previous cup final. We’ll be looking to play the football that we do, and just do what we have done all season in preparation for the play-off at the end of May.

“We want to keep winning and keep the confidence up. At the end of the day, our main focus is the play-off and getting into the Super League.

“We know we’ve had a great season and we’ve won the cups, but the girls are focused, back in the right mindset and ready to finish the season strong. We’ll keep working hard to ensure we perform against West Ham and Blackburn.”