NEWS I Pete Jarvis: Manager predicts tough test at Chesterfield

Rotherham United Women travel to the foothills of the Peak District for their first away game of the season this weekend – but boss Pete Jarvis says he’s not expecting a Sunday afternoon stroll.

Chesterfield Ladies, who host the Millers, posted an impressive 4-2 away victory in their season opener at Ilkeston Town last Sunday.

And Jarvis will be hoping his side show the same staying power and stamina which saw them grind out a result against Grimsby Town in their own curtain-raiser at Roundwood.

It’s very early days, but the 1-0 win puts RUWFC in the “right” half of the table and will have buoyed the side ahead of their first away day.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Jarvis said: “Chesterfield were really good test last season.

“I know that had a few changes but they’ll still be a really good force in this league.

“We need to take the learnings from today and step it up another level.

“They will have even more threat going forward and defensively they have always been really solid.

“They tend to keep the ball a bit more so might not have as much possession there as we managed to against Grimsby but all the same we need to play our game when we were in possession and be just solid as we were not.

“I think we’re in a really good position to be taking a lot more points off the teams towards the top end of this this league this season.”

Jarvis said the three points on Sunday were “just reward for all the hard work that has gone in a pre-season,” adding: “I think back to this time last year and our first game was away at Basford United, when we hadn’t had such a good pre-season and had quite a few availability issues.

“This pre-season felt very different and so it was really good to have that reward for the girls for all the hard work they put in all the commitment they’ve shown.

“It was just the coming together of a lot of things that went really positively and puts us up on a on a really good footing for the rest of the season.”

RUWFC Reserves, who enjoyed a positive pre-season overall, will be looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing 8-0 defeat at home to Brunsmeer Athletic.

Dave Vine’s side were still in the contest at 1-0 at the half-time, but Brunsmeer took control after the break.

A short trip to Brinsworth Whitehill’s Phoenix ground on Sunday is in store for the Reserves, who kick off at 2pm. Admission is free for all fans.