As Moneyfields FC Women’s Reserves reach the halfway stage of their campaign, manager James Jenkins has shared his thoughts on a challenging but hugely encouraging first part of the season.

Jenkins described the early months as “interesting” and “a challenge,” largely due to the unique nature of this year’s squad. With several young players only recently turning 16 – and therefore newly eligible to compete – the team has had to wait patiently for key additions. But now that the group is together, the difference has been clear.

“The progression in the group from when we started to where we are now is night and day,” Jenkins said. “Sunday’s game felt like a turning point, and tonight in training we were moving the ball quicker and looking really positive for the rest of the season.”

This season also saw Claire Haskett and Paul Waters join the coaching setup, an addition Jenkins says has been transformative. He explains, “They’ve had a huge impact. We always wanted more coaches last year, so it’s great to have different voices and different experiences for the girls. My voice gets boring after a while!” he joked.

“They’ve made a big difference to the group and to how we run the team.”

The influx of newly eligible 16-year-olds has added fresh energy to the squad, even if their introduction has been slightly stop-start due to early injuries. “They’ve been desperate to get playing,” Jenkins explained. “When we finally had them all out on the pitch properly on Sunday, the difference they made was huge. They’re really exciting young players.”

One of the standout positives this season has been the continued progression of players into the first team setup. The manager highlighted Ami Chiddle, who made her first team debut earlier this season. “Ami’s been fantastic. Her progression has been natural, and getting first-team minutes shows the pathway is there. It’s great for both the young players and the older ones to see that opportunity.”

Several reserve players were also involved in a recent first-team friendly at Tottenham Hotspur – an experience Jenkins says they embraced. “They really enjoyed it. It was a step up in physicality and speed, but they didn’t look out of their depth. They represented the reserves brilliantly.”

With a newly formed squad, results haven’t matched last season’s, but Jenkins is clear about priorities. “We’re not about results in the reserves; it’s about development. That’s always been the focus. But now the team is gelling, I think we’ll start getting the results the girls deserve.”

He also noted that the league will split into new divisions after Christmas – a stage the club has been targeting from the beginning, knowing the early fixtures would be difficult.

Looking ahead for the rest of the season, Jenkins has a clear aim to develop players and build momentum. “The target is to get as many players as possible minutes with the first team. As a squad, of course, we want to win games, and we’re building towards a strong second half of the season.”

The reserves will kick off the new year with a Hampshire Cup tie away at Southampton U21s, a test Jenkins believes will set the tone for their push up the second-phase table. Jenkins explains, “It’ll be a great start to the second part of the season. We want to finish as high as we can.”

The team’s next match is this weekend when they travel to face Keynsham Town’s Development Squad.