Millwall Lionesses goalkeeper Chrissie Wiggins was pleased to “end the year on a high” after their 3-0 win at home to Denham.
After starting the season with three consecutive defeats, the Lionesses won seven games in a row – five under new boss Jack Wheeler – before a difficult spell including defeat to AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup, followed by a 3-3 draw with Aylesford and a 9-1 defeat to Fulham in the league.
But Millwall bounced back to end the year in fourth place in the London & South East Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division table.
“Of course it’s always good to end the year on a high,” Wiggins said on the Lionesses website. “The girls were buzzing after the win, another three points after a bit of a rough patch puts us up to fourth and it’s something we can now build on and work towards in the new calendar year.
“I’m personally very happy with [the clean sheet]. It’s what all keepers aim for each game. It’s something myself and the team take a lot of pride in, we make ourselves hard to beat and in turn not only does it help me but it helps bring more confidence to the team.”
Wiggins has enjoyed learning from goalkeeping coach Greg McAlinney.
She said: “Greg has been brilliant to work with. I knew when he brought me in I would be busy some games more than others, that’s just the nature of football. Each training session we go over loads of different tactics, some more in-depth than others.
“But on a whole I’m learning loads and we’re working hard to prepare for each and every game so that I perform to the standards that I set myself.”
Chloe Burr gave Millwall the lead against Denham at St Paul’s. The hosts had to wait until the final two minutes to make the game safe as Maisie Joyce scored from the penalty spot and Milly Penfold added the third.
“I was so relieved when that second goal went in,” Wiggins said. “I was crouched down just short of the half-way line watching the penalty. I had confidence in Maisie, she’s so reliable from the spot as we’ve seen this season but the pressure at that moment in the game was intense.
“It then takes the pressure off us a little as it was a crazy 90-plus minutes. Poor Jack’s heart-rate would have been going crazy.”
Wiggins also acknowledged the support the club side have enjoyed as they try to make their way back up the football pyramid.
“Since I’ve been at the club the fans are always brilliant, they support us through to the end and really help us, they’re our twelfth player – the more the better I say.