DFC Women’s Co-Manager Martin McCarthy talks to Gareth Morgan about his side’s recent run
Top of the league in March and through to two cup finals. ‘A pivotal month’ has seen some brilliant performances, as DFC Women’s side look to make history this season.
Semi-final victories against Bromley and Dorking and a draw against Fulham are among the results that have seen more mental barriers broken – and left the team in the perfect position to go one better than last season.
The Women’s side is hungry for more success and look in perfect shape for the final run-in.
Women’s Co-Manager Martin McCarthy said: “No women’s side at these levels have ever won back-to-back cup doubles, so the team know they have a chance to make history.
“We’re in two cup finals, but also have the opportunity of winning a treble with the league.
“I would have bitten your hand off if you’d offered me this position right now, at the start of the season.”
Martin had recently made it clear that the run of five matches across February and into March were pivotal for his side’s season.
But the team took it in their stride, with a 5-0 win against Sutton, followed by a win on penalties against Bromley in the semi-final of the Kent Cup. Next up, was a 0-0 away to Fulham and a 3-1 win in their League Cup semi-final against Dorking. Last Sunday, saw them register a 1-0 away win to Saltdean United.
He said: “Sunday was huge, because it’s a long way to go to Brighton and the conditions and pitch weren’t great.
“But we dealt with it in a professional manner. I didn’t feel like we were ever under any pressure, but we were searching for the goal for a long time. We had lots of opportunities and in the second half, I’m wondering if it is going to be our day. But once again, the girls got themselves over the line.”
For Martin, more mental barriers have been broken across the past four or five weeks.
He continued: “We beat Sutton, then Bromley on penalties and then drew with Fulham, which was a fantastic result.
“Fulham hadn’t lost a game in the league all season. All of a sudden, we’ve gone there and I think we were the better side. We had three good opportunities to win, but it was a must-not-lose game which could potentially set us up for a winner-take-all last game of the season.
“Then, we had the semi-final win against Dorking and then the Saltdean win. So, we’re currently in a fantastic position where we sit top of the league. Fulham have six games in hand on us, but we are 13 points ahead of them.
“Saltdean and Fulham are two of our biggest rivals for the league, so full credit to the girls for the performances they put in.
“To draw against Fulham was an unbelievable result, because you look at the money they’ve spent and know it’s going to be a tough game.
“Every week we break mental barriers. Last year, when we lost at their place it was in front a huge crowd and we kind of got lost because of it. This time, the crowd was still big, but the mentality was better.
“Even against Bromley, it was their cup final and we navigated a way through. Against Saltdean, I don’t think we had ever won there before. So again, it’s just showing huge, continual growth for our team.”
For Martin and co-manager Connor, it’s been a squad game over recent weeks, with all players getting an opportunity to shine.
He said: “All the girls have been used, so it’s not about having a great team of 11 players.
“It can be hard if you’re not playing in one game, and then you’ve got to get yourself up for the next one. And this is what we said to the girls on Sunday, it’s fantastic to see that people are sort of losing their positions week-to-week, but they’re not sulking. They’re actually happy for the person that’s going in, because they know they’re needed as part of the bigger picture.
”It’s one pivotal month to another for the team, with important games coming thick and fast.
Martin continued: “We are away to Ashford, which is a tough game, then we have Sutton and Barking before we have our two cup finals back-to-back, in four days.
“That’s going to be a tough ask, but as we say to the girls, pressure is a privilege. Every game we’re playing at the moment is pressure, because we’re in every competition.
“If we can go and get nine points in the league, it means Fulham can’t slip up at all and I’d rather have the points on the board at this stage.”
The Women’s team are leaving no stone unturned as they aim to give themselves the best chance of going one better than last season, with the title tantalising close.
He added: “They are training two nights a week and getting together at the gym, on another. They’re hugely buying into the ethos of becoming more professional and pushing the women’s side of the football club on.
“They deserve huge credit. They’re doing all they can do at this moment in time. And I just hope they get what they deserve at the end of the season after this amazing effort.”
