Since my first column, we have already had two league games which seems a bit crazy after what feels like such a long pre-season. We have had mixed weather and mixed fortunes over the two games with a sun-drenched 5-2 win over Cardiff City preceding a hugely disappointing, and wet, 3-1 defeat to recently promoted Loughborough Foxes.

The 5-2 win was a good display of discipline out of possession and clinical finishing. We created chances, which we often do, but we were ruthless in front of goal. I think that was the main difference between the two games.

We didn’t perform too badly against Loughborough, but we were snatching at chances and not punishing our opposition when we had worked so hard to open them up. At the other end, they were almost the opposite as they took three of the four or five chances they had. On another day, it could have been five or six goals to three.

That’s the thing with senior football. The players will have learnt more from the defeat than they did from the win. We need to learn that we cannot afford to waste opportunities because we will be punished at the other end. So it was back to work for most of the squad on Tuesday night and I expect the focus has turned to the weekend’s trip to Poole Town in the FAWNL Cup.

I haven’t been at training this week as I am currently away on international duty with Wales as we are set to take on our local rivals England in our final World Cup Qualifier at Rodney Parade in Newport. We take on the Lionesses tonight at 7.45pm and a place at next summer’s World Cup in France is at stake. We currently sit one point ahead of England at the top of the table having played a game more.

The simple reality is, if we win, we go to France. We lose, we don’t. England have one more game against Kazakhstan next week to secure their place should our showdown end in a draw. There’s a messy case of a play-off spot also up for grabs, but it hurts my head to work out the permutations, so I’d rather just get the job done with a win.

Hopefully by the time I write my next column, we will have another couple of wins under our belts and a Watford girl heading for the World Cup.