Manager takes positives after difficult end to the season
Dan Mlinar is optimistic that Millwall Lionesses can learn from what has been a difficult season and come back stronger and better equipped to deal with the rigours of WSL 2 next time out.
Sunday's 4-0 defeat Doncaster Rovers, a result that secured Donny's promotion to League 1, brought to a close a tricky final period to a campaign that had started so promisingly.
However manager Dan reflected on the positives of a tough year, saying: "We had a great start to the season and a difficult finish, but now we have got some foundations laid.
Sunday's 4-0 defeat Doncaster Rovers, a result that secured Donny's promotion to League 1, brought to a close a tricky final period to a campaign that had started so promisingly.
However manager Dan reflected on the positives of a tough year, saying: "We had a great start to the season and a difficult finish, but now we have got some foundations laid.
"When I took over at the start of the season it was all over the place, but now we can build on those foundations and move it on to the next step."
Speaking about Sunday's game, in which goals from Beth England, Hope Knight and Sue Smith (2) secured a win for Donny but still saw Reading pip them for the title on goal difference, Dan added: "We had numerous counter attacks and entries into the final third, but we just didn't kill them off with a killer pass or the right run.
"I thought the game was a lot tighter than 4-0 and that we gave them a good test.
"We knew Doncaster were going to have a lot of the ball and a lot of territory but, to a player in the first 41 minutes, we have done our jobs.
"It was the first time we had let an uncontested cross come in, and in fairness, it was a fantastic header from Beth England."
Speaking about Sunday's game, in which goals from Beth England, Hope Knight and Sue Smith (2) secured a win for Donny but still saw Reading pip them for the title on goal difference, Dan added: "We had numerous counter attacks and entries into the final third, but we just didn't kill them off with a killer pass or the right run.
"I thought the game was a lot tighter than 4-0 and that we gave them a good test.
"We knew Doncaster were going to have a lot of the ball and a lot of territory but, to a player in the first 41 minutes, we have done our jobs.
"It was the first time we had let an uncontested cross come in, and in fairness, it was a fantastic header from Beth England."
Belles skipper Leandra Little offered words of consolation to the Lionesses and praised the work ethic of Mlinar's side. She added: "Millwall are a physical team and had a good game plan in that they made it difficult for us to break them down, but our fitness at the end won the game."
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