A 3-1 victory over West Didsbury and Chorlton at The Ginge Power Stadium on Sunday made it three wins from three for Bolton Wanderers Women, capping a fortnight of back-to-back fixtures that Tom Cunniff has described as a full test of his squad. Preston North End are next, away on Wednesday.
Three games in eleven days, three wins and a group that finished the week wanting more. For a side who spent last season learning what tier five demands of them, the opening fortnight of this campaign has answered a lot of questions early.
"Superb," Cunniff said. "We knew it would be a tough week with the games back to back, but we could not have asked for more. The points, obviously, but also the performance, the effort from everyone and the attitude from everyone. Everyone went home buzzing and ready for another tough week ahead."
Stepping up in every area
Wanderers finished third in their first season at this level. The gap to the top was small enough to be maddening and closing it has shaped everything about how this squad was built and prepared. Three games in, the head coach sees the difference in more than just results.
"Every game you have got different problems to solve, but I think we have stepped up everywhere so far, technically, physically and tactically, because we have worked on a few different things," he said. "They have taken it in their stride and they are showing that with the results.
"Everyone cannot wait for the next game and the next game, and hopefully this time next week we are still top of the league, with momentum, ready for one-game weeks instead of two-game weeks."
A squad, not a team
The old line about not changing a winning side has not applied at Daisy Hill. Cunniff has rotated through all three fixtures and he made sure nobody in the dressing room was surprised by it.
"We knew that would be a big challenge with all the games in the first two weeks," he said. "We explained to all the players that there would be rotation for the right reasons, not just for the sake of it. We will keep doing that over the next couple of weeks at least and throughout the season.
"If we want to win the league, it needs to be a squad effort. You are seeing that when we rotate, the level does not drop. Everyone knows their role in the team and everyone is important."
What a full pre-season buys you
Ask Cunniff what has changed most since last season and he does not start with signings. He starts with time.
"We have had a full pre-season with them and we had a full plan ready for the season and for each stage of it, so they know what we are doing and why we are making certain decisions," he said.
"They are being really professional in looking after themselves, not pushing themselves too much without speaking to us if there is a slight injury or a knock, and giving us the chance to rotate the squad. We have had more time to prepare for this league and they have all bought in massively. You see that in every game we have played so far."
One goes up, and no room to drift
Only one club will be promoted to the next tier this season, which leaves very little margin across a long campaign. Cunniff is clear-eyed about that, and equally clear about what this group is chasing.
"Massively confident in the players. I believe in them so much and in the staff," he said. "We know it is going to be tough and there are going to be bumps along the way. We have had a really good start, but that has to continue.
"We stay positive and our mindset is to win the league. That is what every single player wants. Whether they were here last season or came in this summer, they all said they want to win the league and move up the divisions and do that with Bolton. We have got a really good chance this year with the start we have had. That is the main goal, and I am confident we can do it."
Preston next
The reward for three wins in eleven days is another game on Wednesday, away at Preston North End and another set of decisions to make with tired legs.
"Preston have had a mixed start to the season," Cunniff said. "We know a couple of their players. It will be a tough test, but we will go there with a game plan again. We will rotate the squad again, which we have to do with the turnaround we have got and we are confident we can go there and get the three points."
The support at Daisy Hill across the past fortnight has been noticed by the players and by the staff and the trip to Preston is a short one. Anyone who fancies going along and adding a few familiar voices on the road would be very welcome. (The game will be played at Bamber Bridge Sports Hub, Kick Off 7:30pm)
Three from three and the players are not done yet.