SAINTS forward Sophia Pharoah reveals training intensity has been boosted after signings increased competition for shirts ahead of the Championship season.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s Women’s side finished their pre-season with back-to-back comfortable friendly victories versus Billericay Town and Hashtag United.

They added to an initial 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest as Saints prepare for their league opener at Lewes FC’s Dripping Pan on Sunday, August 27.

Saints are hoping to win the Championship and seal promotion to the Women’s Super League for the first time in the club’s current women’s format.

Pharoah, who scored twice in Sunday’s second-half fightback to win 4-1 against Hashtag United, agrees with the club’s ambitions.

“Our squad is so strong. We’ve got players who are wanting to come off that bench and be starters. We’ve got a really strong squad this season,” she told the Daily Echo.

“They’ve brought so much experience to the group. They’ve added some composure on the pitch. There’s a real tidiness to the way that they play and they’ll be great assets to our team.

“The level in training has 100% gone up,” Pharoah added. “Everyone is fighting for their shirts because there are no guaranteed spots in the team.

“That’s obviously increased the intensity in training, as has the new signings as well, they’ve pushed up the level of quality.”

Pharoah scored the winner in the National League playoff final to get Saints into the Championship in May 2022 but did not kick on as a regular starter.

“I’m really happy with my two goals, but contributing to the team in whatever way I can is the main thing,” Pharoah now says, reflecting on finishing her pre-season.

“We need that composure in front of goal. We’ve definitely got goalscorers in our team, not just one or two, there’s many that can score, it’s just about whether can we take that from training into a game.”