But with a few new faces on board, they started their 2017 season with an 8-0 rout of Thornton in the opening Round of the Women’s Premier League last Sunday.

Port Macquarie’s Sophie Jones scored a hat-trick, while Courtney Anderson and Bianca Mason scored a brace each.

Britt Hargreaves was the fourth player to get on the scoresheet as last year’s wooden spooners remarkably went top of the table on goal difference.

It was a far cry from 2016.

Manager Kathie Bestwick said the girls were committed from the first whistle until the last.

“It has been a young team for a couple of years and now they know what is needed and expected of them,” she said.

Mid North Coast scored just 12 goals in 18 games last season but declared they would be semi-final contenders this year with the comprehensive win over the Redbacks on Sunday.

Jones, Shannon Day and goalkeeper Imogene Tomasone are all from the Mid North Coast but have spent the past several seasons travelling to play for Newcastle-based WPL teams.

“There is a lot more commitment to training and a good team bond amongst the girls,” Bestwick said.

“Sophie dominated the centre of the park for us along with Shannon Day and the girls had some really nice passages of play.”

Next up for Mid North Coast is a clash with South Wallsend on Sunday at 2.15pm in Taree.