Reading FC Women’s manager Liam Gilbert reflected on a season of ‘learning’ in which the Royals secured safety in the Women’s Championship.
The Royals concluded their campaign with a disappointing defeat to bottom of the table and already relegated Watford on the final day, however Reading had already secured survival before the final day.
“Obviously it wasn’t the way we wanted the season to end, but it was a game of being clinical and Watford on the day just pipped it,” said Gilbert following Reading’s 3-2 loss to the Hornets.
“We created more than enough, we just didn’t take ours as well as Watford and that’s probably not the first time we’ve said that this season.
“But again credit to these girls who could have quite easily thrown the towel going 1-0 down, especially after last week’s achievement, but they kept going right until the end.”
Reflecting on the season as a whole, Gilbert admitted that he was left was a bittersweet feeling.
He continued: “Obviously we’ve experienced some real highs, and some real lows, so Sunday against Watford very much felt bittersweet.
“That’s the kind of feeling now for me personally now we’re at the end of the season.
“It’s been one heck of a year, a lot more intense than I ever thought it would be.
“There’s been some things that I know I’ve got completely wrong, but there’s been other aspects I’m really please with what’s been done.
“So there has been a lot of lessons learned this year, and with everything we’ve been up against that’s been documented, it really has been a challenge.
“So to get to this point now, safe in the division for another year, we can take as a real achievement.
“Did we demand more from ourselves before the season started? Certainly.
“But when you’re dealing with lots of uncertainty, a lot of stuff that you’re new to, I think we have to be encouraged with what’s been done.
“Now, in the next couple of weeks, we review everything, take a bit of time to recover, and then we begin planning for what next season will look like.”
