Millwall Lionesses remain top after 6-0 win over Acorns

BY KAI BENNETT

Millwall Lionesses manager Jack Wheeler was pleased with the reaction from his side’s defeat against Fulham as they bounced back and beat AFC Acorns 6-0 on Sunday.

Millwall are top of the London & South East Regional Women’s Division, two points clear of second-placed Worthing.

The Lionesses started well and got the opener when Maisie Joyce got on the end of a Jade Keogh corner.

It was two six minutes before the break as Shannan Drewe did well to beat the defender before striking under the keeper and into the corner.

It didn’t take long to get the third after the restart. Millie Connell hit home from another Keogh delivery.

Drewe got her second and the Lionesses’ fourth with half half an hour to go as her powerful effort flew into the top right-hand corner.

Her hat-trick was complete when the ball was played into the box, Drewe took a touch and placed it past the keeper.

The cherry on top came with three minutes remaining as Milly Penfold’s effort from the edge of the box flew into the bottom corner.

Wheeler said: “We’ve got to take each week as it comes, we had a bit of hangover from the way we lost in the FA Cup and from it, we didn’t reach the same level of performance that we did prior to that game.

“I’m really pleased with the conduct and professionalism of the girls and the performance, just hoping that can propel us back up to the standards and the expectations that we expect from the group. Really positive and really happy, both as staff and really happy for the players.

“Really happy with the performance, obviously we needed a reaction after the last couple of weeks.

“Really pleased with how the girls conducted themselves, a tricky game today, a potential banana skin for us and going to a new facility but the biggest thing for us was focusing on being high performers and really getting a big result that we needed, another three points and hopefully it will kick start us on another good run.

“It’s really important to get back to winning ways because winning and losing can become a habit. It’s just important we continue we make sure that we keep putting in good performances.

“If we do that I’m pretty sure that we will keep getting the big three points so I’m really pleased.”

First-team coach Adam Rowland was particularly impressed with how the Lionesses dealt with plenty of changes throughout the side.

Rowland added: “We changed the whole midfield, completely different three in there. They coped very well with it, worked very hard. We worked hard on the rotation throughout the week, so it was good to see that in effect out there.

“Shannan got her real sort of full debut, got herself a hat-trick and has done very well coming in. Overall, pleased with the players that came in, they did their job, worked hard and gave us a good performance.

“Nothing changes really in the way we prepare, we go into every game with the same thoughts, work ethic, the girls are going to work hard throughout it, building up to it.

“We have to keep the momentum going, every game is a big game for us now and we want to stay where we are and we want to progress. The girls know where we need to be at and we’re going to work hard this week and over the next couple of weeks in preparations for that game.”

PICTURES: TOM WEST PHOTOGRAPHY