Gwalia United has set a clear goal of securing promotion back to the third tier of the English football pyramid after experiencing relegation last season. The Welsh club managed to accumulate only 22 points in the Southern Premier Division last season, winning a mere six of their 22 matches.

Following victories in their initial two matches in National League Division One South West, manager Cori Williams-Mills is vocal about the team’s ambitions. “We want to win the league,” stated the former Wales international, who took the reins in January. “We’ve got a group of players who want to be here and fight for what we’re trying to do. We know what our ambitions are, and we’re not hiding from the fact that we want to go and win the league. We’ve just got to go and do it now.”

Gwalia has started the season positively, building on a resounding 6-0 win at Ascot United with a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth Sports last Sunday. Despite only winning three of their 11 home games last season, the team was able to secure a win at Treforest thanks to a goal from Molly Kehoe. However, Williams-Mills expressed some concerns about their performance, particularly noting that Gwalia was fortunate when Bournemouth’s Rosie Eden missed a late penalty. “I don’t think we came out of the blocks in the first half,” she commented. “We were pretty disappointing. We came out with a bit of fight in the second half and probably pinched it. If we win 1-0 every game from now until the end of the season, I’ll be very pleased, but we need to keep improving.”

Next, Gwalia will face third-tier Cheltenham Town in the League Cup on Thursday at 19:45 BST, before returning to league play against Torquay on Sunday.

Defender Ellie-Mai Sanford, a former player for Bristol City, expressed confidence in Gwalia’s potential to bounce back. “It’s going to be tough, and people probably have high expectations of us since we’ve just come down, but winning the league and getting back up to tier three where we should be is obviously the main goal,” she said. “It’s good to see the ambition the club has, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Kilburn-Thompson Makes an Impressive Debut

Summer recruit Esme Kilburn-Thompson is eager to contribute to Gwalia’s promotion aspirations. Joining from Cardiff Met, where she netted 13 goals in 11 appearances for last season’s Adran South champions, the forward is excited about this new challenge. “I wanted to give myself a bit of a push and prove to all the coaches why I deserve to be here, and hopefully I’ve done that so far,” Kilburn-Thompson said, reflecting on her hat-trick debut at Ascot.

Williams-Mills has shown appreciation for Kilburn-Thompson’s early impact at Gwalia. “She’s got a really good attitude. She wants to improve and wants to get better,” Williams-Mills noted. “She was probably disappointed with some chances she missed in pre-season, so for her to get three last week, I was really pleased.”

Gwalia United have one clear objective after suffering relegation last season – promotion back to the third tier of the English football pyramid.

The Welsh side collected just 22 points in the Southern Premier Division last season, winning only six of their 22 matches.

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After victories in their first two fixtures in National League Division One South West, manager Cori Williams-Mills is clear on expectations.

“We want to win the league,” said the former Wales international, who was appointed in January.

“We’ve got a group of players who want to be here and fight for what we’re trying to do.

“We know what our ambitions are and we’re not hiding from the fact that we want to go and win the league. We’ve just got to go and do it now.”

Gwalia have made an encouraging start to the season, having backed up their 6-0 win at Ascot United with a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth Sports last Sunday.

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They won just three of 11 home games last season but enjoyed a success in Treforest thanks to Molly Kehoe’s winner.

Williams-Mills was not fully satisfied despite the result, with Gwalia lucky when Bournemouth’s Rosie Eden missed a late penalty.

“I don’t think we came out of the blocks in the first half,” she said. “We were pretty disappointing.

“We came out with a bit of fight in the second half and probably pinched it.

“If we win 1-0 every game from now until the end of the season I’ll be very pleased, but we need to keep improving.”

Gwalia go to third-tier Cheltenham Town in the League Cup on Thursday (19:45 BST) before they return to league action at Torquay on Sunday.

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Defender Ellie-Mai Sanford, formerly of Bristol City, is confident Gwalia can mount a challenge to bounce straight back up.

“It’s going to be tough, and people probably have high expectations of us since we’ve just come down, but winning the league and getting back up to tier three where we should be is obviously the main goal,” she said.

“It’s good to see the ambition the club has, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Kilburn-Thompson makes the step up

Summer signing Esme Kilburn-Thompson hopes to help propel Gwalia to their promotion target.

Signed from Cardiff Met after scoring 13 goals in 11 appearances for the Adran South title winners last season, the forward is relishing the step up.

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“I wanted to give myself a bit of a push and prove to all the coaches why I deserve to be here, and hopefully I’ve done that so far,” said Kilburn-Thompson, who scored a hat-trick on debut at Ascot.

Williams-Mills has been impressed by the forward’s start to life at Gwalia.

“She’s got a really good attitude. She wants to improve and wants to get better,” she said.

“She was probably disappointed with some chances she missed in pre-season, so for her to get three last week, I was really pleased.”