Gwalia head into this weekend’s challenging fixture against current league leaders Ipswich Town in high spirits, following a string of impressive performances that have highlighted their growing quality. Manager James Thomas will be hoping his side can build on their recent form, which includes a hard-fought draw, a narrow defeat, and a statement victory over previous league leaders Hashtag United — a result that has thrust their opponents this weekend ironically back into their position as the new league leaders.
That victory over Hashtag United, which saw standout performances from Casi Gregson, Chloe Lloyd, and Ellie-Mai Sanford, proved that Gwalia are capable of matching the very best in the league. Gregson’s dynamic attacking play, Lloyd’s composed presence, and Sanford’s defensive solidity have provided a strong foundation for Gwalia’s recent upturn in form. The challenge now is to maintain that momentum against another top side.
James Thomas has been clear about the importance of consistency and building on these positive displays. Speaking ahead of the game, he said:
“We’ve shown that we can compete with the top teams in this league. The win over Hashtag United was a huge boost for us, but now it’s about backing that up. We don’t want to be a side that performs well one week and then drops off the next. Consistency is key, and the players know that. The focus now is on turning good performances into points and making sure we give ourselves a platform to push on. There are still three games to go this season and we are targeting three excellent performances to close out the season as a minimum requirement as there are still nine points to play for”
Thomas also highlighted the mindset he wants to instil in his squad as they prepare to face Ipswich:
“We approach every game with the mentality of wanting to take something from it. Ipswich are top of the league for a reason, but we’ve shown that we can mix it with the best. The key now is to stay focused, stay disciplined, and make sure we take our chances when they come. The players have shown great character recently, and now it’s about channelling that into another strong performance. There is no tougher place to go to than Ipswich away, especially when they are targeting wins to clinch a league championship, but we are fostering a mentality at Gwalia where we want to take on challenges and there is no greater challenge than this.”
Gwalia’s defensive organisation and ability to create chances on the break will be crucial against an Ipswich side that has been ruthless in front of goal this season. But with confidence growing and momentum building, Gwalia will travel to Suffolk believing they can turn heads in the same way as they did last weekend.
