Three games in, and Gwalia United are already showing they mean business. A point off the top of the table, the league’s top scorer in their ranks, and the scalps of a top-three side from last season – not a bad way to announce yourself.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. The season started with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Oxford United, the sort of game that could easily knock the wind out of a new campaign. But instead of sulking, Gwalia came back swinging. And how.
The response was an 8-1 thrashing of Billericay Town, a scoreline that made the rest of the division sit up and take notice. Gwalia’s attacking football clicked into gear from the first whistle, with goals coming from all over the pitch. The standout? Striker Cori Williams Mills, who bagged four goals and showed exactly why she’s a nightmare for defenders. She currently finds herself sitting top of the league’s scoring charts with four goals in three games.
This weekend brought a very different challenge – Hashtag United. They finished in the top three last season and are seen as one of the tougher sides in the league. But Gwalia proved they can grind out results – a single first-half goal from Tia Asker was enough to seal a 1-0 win and their first home victory of the season. It wasn’t flashy, but it was full of character.
That ability to win in different ways – smashing one week, stubborn the next – is what has people starting to believe Gwalia could be more than just early-season entertainers. They’ve already scored 10 and conceded just two, showing they can balance flair with defensive discipline. There’s also a sense of momentum building. The summer recruitment drive was about adding depth and giving the team a stronger spine, and it’s paying off. Competition for places is fierce, and you can see the hunger across the squad. Players like Williams Mills are getting the headlines, but it’s the also midfield energy, the backline’s organisation, and the team’s work rate that’s laying the foundations.
Of course, nobody at the club is getting carried away. Three games don’t define a season, and tougher tests are on the horizon. But Gwalia have done the important bit: they’ve shown they belong at this level of the league, that they can live with the top sides, and that they’ve got players that can turn half-chances into goals.
So, three matches in, what have we learned? Gwalia can bounce back from setbacks. They can score when given the chance. They can dig in when the game gets tight. And they’re sitting a single point off the top of the league.
Item Photo Credit: Duncan Thomas
