AFTER the disappointment of relegation last season, Hereford Ladies 2nd's target at the start of the season was to bounce back and gain promotion.

But no-one could have expected the start they have had to their aim, not least their captain Tessa Langford who is just as surprised as delighted with their perfect start to the season.

“It’s unexpected that’s for sure, brilliant but unexpected," she said.

"I think it reflects on the effort that the whole team have put in this year. We were disappointed with how things went last season and our sole focus was to get promoted this year and so far we are more than on target to reach our goal which is absolutely fantastic.”

Relegation came as a bit of a shock last season, as the team believe they have the quality of player needed to compete in the division above.

But one important factor that has changed since last season is squad consistency as Langford explained.

“We’ve got quite a strong core of players that have played the majority of the games this season with a couple of decent youngsters," said the captain.

"It’s something we didn’t have last season and, as our results show, there seems to be a better togetherness about the team with everyone really fighting and playing for each other which does reflect with our performances week in week out.”

The togetherness of the team was something that was worked on over the summer. The team are now enjoying playing their hockey again and that is something that vice-captain Mel Bryans believes is vital to any success the club may have.

“We are on a good run this season but the main thing is we go out there with a smile on our face," she said. "At times last year we didn’t do that.

"you really couldn’t fault the hard work and commitment the girls have put in.

"With the way they have supported each other this year, you can only see us carrying on to get promoted to a division where we feel we deserve to be."

The feeling that the team deserves to be in a league above runs strong throughout the team and, as Deri Horan explained, is the driving force behind the performances this season.

“The league above is where we should be and although we had a bad season last year it wasn’t necessarily the performances that let us down but perhaps a lack of goals and this year we’ve rectified that," she said.

"This season everyone seems a bit more willing to have a shot, to have a go and try something they might not have done last year.

"So far it appears to be working, let’s just hope we can carry on this amazing run and get promoted now.”

With performances like the one they produced against Lansdown 3rd last Saturday, promotion looks well within reach as goals from Pippa Pearson, Langford and Tia Taylor ensured they continued their fabulous start to the season, making it 10 wins out of 10 with a comfortable 3-0 victory.

In horrendous weather conditions, it was just before half-time when Hereford broke the deadlock when Pearson managed to flick the ball into the back of the net to give the home side a 1-0 lead at half time.

A break in the rain at the start of the second half coincided with a fantastic solo goal from Langford. Picking the ball up just inside the opponents half, she dribbled past four defenders before flicking the ball up past the helpless Lansdown keeper.

Taylor sealed the win seven minutes before time as she fired home after another good flowing Hereford move.