Head coach Zoey Shaw says the Belles have had a solid week in training after their first weekend of three without a scheduled league game.
The Belles faced Sheffield United’s development side in a behind-closed-doors friendly in the week and Shaw felt the opportunity to test out some new things was something that could prove crucial for her squad.
“We’ve had a good week, we had a friendly in mid-week which was good to get the group together for, the pressure was off us with their not being any league action to come once again which I think was good for us,” she said.
“It’s nice to try new things out, whether that’s in training or in these sorts of games, it wasn’t result-based at all for us, we wanted to get something else out of it, it gives the squad some experience of playing in new formations which will help us when we get back to the league.
“We’ve had a clear focus in what we’re doing and what we want to create here, the results will come soon I’m sure, it’s a great project here, the girls are really on fire at the moment, it’s a process and we have to stick by that.”
The Belles will go away on a team-building exercise at the weekend with a trip across the Pennines in store, and Shaw is excited to get everyone together and build on team relationships.
“We’ve got a bit of a surprise for them this weekend with a team-building exercise away from here, they won’t know what’s ahead for them until they get there, it’ll be good for us all to get away really,” she added.
“They’ll have an early start, we’ll have a team breakfast to get everyone together, and we’ll see what the day brings but it’ll be good to get some team bonding done, they’re already pulling together to get as many of the squad to come along.
“It’s not just about doing what is needed on the pitch, it’s about making sure things are right off it as well, whether that’s us as staff and what we can do to help, we all want to move in the right direction so the break has been good to us so far.”