Bryansford ladies’ footballers’ defensive record has propelled them to the summit of Division Two.
They have conceded just 46 points in six games. New manager James McClements explained that this did not happen by accident.
He said: “I think when you come into any new club the first thing that you do is to try and make yourself hard to score against. Any new management wants their team to be hard to play against.
“After you get your defence and midfield sorted out, going forward, you can get your opportunities. That’s what builds confidence.
“When a team realises they are hard to break down, and teams aren’t scoring against them, that builds confidence. When you have some of the forwards that Bryansford have, you are going to get opportunities.”
In one of their best defensive performances so far, Bryansford held Saul to just two scores in their 1-7 to 1-1 victory last Thursday.
James said: “It was a good game between two very good competitive and physical teams. Saul came with a plan. They were well set up and well structured.
“They had a plan in how they were going to attack us. The difference was that in the second half, we just controlled the game a lot better. We controlled the tempo of the game, and we controlled the ball.
“After that we were a bit more ruthless in front of goal. Natasha Ferris slotted over a couple of good points and we just slowly moved five points ahead. But I wouldn’t say that Saul were ever out of it.”
Bryansford beat Teconnaught on Sunday past (2-5 to 0-7). They have also beaten Rostrevor (3-17 to 1-2), Warrenpoint (6-18 to 0-7), and Annaclone (4-7 to 2-9). However, they lost to Clonduff in round one, 1-4 to 2-2.
Bryansford play Clonduff tomorrow (Thursday).
In the full story James goes on to say what drew him to manage the club this season.
