WANDERERS Women got off to a flying start to the season with a 6-0 win against Workington – but manager Myles Smith has warned that the hard work starts now.

An unfortunate fixture clash with the men’s game against Wrexham on Sunday afternoon meant the team’s official relaunch happened slightly out of the spotlight but goals from Jessica Lightfoot, Katie Holt, Milla Hodson (2), Charlotte Tyers and Eboni Bradshaw ensured a successful start.

The summer had seen a huge overhaul of the squad, some of which have carried through from the team’s previous incarnation and others who have been drafted in from elsewhere.

But given the upheaval and the relatively short time to prepare for Workington’s visit, Smith was happy with what he saw from his side.

“The result speaks for itself but the performance was good, I wouldn’t say we were at our best,” he told The Bolton News. “We had been better in pre-season against teams in the league above.

“First game there is going to be nerves, so it was important to get the win, and we got a few different goal-scorers, so that was great.

“Ideally, I’d have liked another two weeks in pre-season but it is what it is, we prepared the team as best we could. We are still going through preparations but we’re getting to a good place, you are starting to see a bit of identity. Every game you lean as you go.

“I’m doing it myself, learning about the teams around us. You can watch all the footage in the world but you are not always sure how they approach it on the day.

“Sunday was a complete unknown for me because I’d watched what I could but they might have been completely different and as a control freak that’s quite stressful!

“The girls really reacted to everything that has been thrown at them, though, and that’s what you need.”

Those who missed their chance to watch Wanderers Women in action will not have long to wait for their next opportunity as they host Atherton LR on Wednesday night (7pm kick-off). Entrance to the game, played at Atherton Colls’ Dreams 2 Reality Stadium, is free.

Hopes are high that the revamped Whites can push for promotion from the Division One North this season and the margin of Sunday’s result has certainly set a high bar for the games to come.

“If we keep getting results like that then everyone will be happy but that would be a big ask,” Smith said. “As a team we have to recognise it is one game, three points, and there are 20-odd left for us to play.

“We can’t be unhappy with winning one out of one, but we really do have to stay grounded.

“It’s important that we get everyone back in, recover, get the right food on board, then get ready for midweek and those who are going to be selected in the team.

“We just have to keep ticking them off, keep pushing and then see where we’re at.”

The team is operating on a semi-professional basis but the structure and support around the players is comparable with the professional game, giving them the best possible chance to progress.

Now that the fixture schedule has been mapped out and Wanderers know they will be playing two games per week for the first fortnight of the season, Smith is looking to his players to maintain the best possible standards.

“I am happy with how pre-season went from a physical perspective,” he said. “We have been lucky that pretty much everyone we have worked with has been available for selection, and that’s great. Credit to the medical team too.

“I said to the players at the end of the game, don’t go away and celebrate. Get back, eat the right things, look after yourself, we’ll train again Tuesday and then play against Wednesday.

“Professional athletes are athletes 365 days a year, seven days a week. These girls have got to learn how that works but they are certainly learning quickly and I have been really impressed by them so far.”

Though Wanderers underwent a big overhaul in the summer, they have retained a lot of players native to Bolton and the surrounding areas including captain Katie Holt – a season ticket holder at the Toughsheet – Farnworth-born midfielder Lily Barnes and Bolton-born playmaker Eleanor Seals.

Keeping a local flavour was important to Smith as he and his coaching staff assembled the squad over the summer.

“I am never a big believer of coming in and turning the place upside down,” he said. “There is a lot of history in this club, so for me to step in and think I know everything would be the wrong way to approach it because I don’t know everything, I’m learning.

“The players who were here we watched through pre-season over the course of nine or 10 weeks. We could only pick 16 in the squad for Sunday and some were unlucky to miss out.

“Everyone we have now is good enough to be in that team, and that is credit to those who have worked with them in the past.”