Alice Griffiths says Rangers' Women's side must remain “ruthless” after the midfielder scored her first-ever professional goal in the 11–0 demolition of Hamilton at Ibrox.
The Welsh international struck from range to make it 10–0, a moment she admitted meant a great deal on a personal level. She said to The Rangers Journal post-match “It’s been a long time coming, but a really proud moment for me.
“I didn't really know how to celebrate. I think I was conscious as well of the scoreline. But no, it's my first goal, so I was going to celebrate and I'm really happy.”
Rangers have now hit double figures in back-to-back home games, after defeating St Johnstone 12-0 in the cup two weeks ago, something Griffiths believes can boost confidence throughout the squad following consecutive league defeats to title rivals Glasgow City and Hibernian: “It gives us a lot of confidence as a team,” she explained.
“The performance was good and it gives us something to build off going into other games.”
Despite the scoreline, Griffiths insisted the team maintained respect for their opponents – but emphasised the need to be clinical in every scenario.
“We always respect the opposition, but ultimately we're here to play well and win football games,” she said.
“As a team, we want to be clinical and make chances count when we play teams higher up in the table. We have to just be ruthless.”
Playing behind a striker as prolific as Katie Wilkinson, who scored five in the win, is something Griffiths says brings both confidence and responsibility: “She is just so reliable and so consistent as well,” she added. “But I think also we have to give her the right service as well and we can't just rely on Wilko.”
Griffiths also highlighted a clear attacking directive from manager Leanne Crichton and the coaching staff to flood the box and stretch the opposition, she said: “There was more emphasis today on getting numbers in the box, not having midfielders sat deep.
“You're up in better areas of the pitch and you can create more.”
Defensively, she acknowledged her duty in stopping transitions early: “Hamilton were very direct in their style of play. As a deeper midfielder, it's my job to protect the back line,” she said.
Rangers face Hearts next, who currently sit above the Gers in the SWPL table and Griffiths is hoping the performance will act as a springboard back into consistent form: “We want to build from this now and move forward,” she said.
“We took a lot of learning from those results and we're working every day to try and be better and we'll continue to do that.
“We know how important every game is now, especially against teams who are in and amongst it.
“We need to show consistent performances with the teams that are around us.”
And with goal difference already proving influential in previous title races, she insists the squad can’t let up.
“It's important for us to keep doing that, we have to be ruthless in any team that we play against.”