‘Ruthless’ Moneys lay down cup marker

Moneyfields manager Karl Watson heaped praise on his side's ruthless edge as they romped to a Women's FA Cup victory at Shanklin in their season opener.

Moneys laid down a marker for the campaign ahead with a thumping 8-0 preliminary round triumph on the Isle of Wight.

Kim Whitcombe, below, who started the game at centre-back before switching to the number 10 role, served up an outstanding individual display, netting four times.

Kayleigh Tonks, Ciaran Boylan, Katie Shorter and debutant Sokhara Goodall were the other scorers.

But most pleasing for Watson was the way his squad took their chances.

He admitted his side have been guilty of not being so clinical in the past.

‘It was a lovely day all-round on Sunday,' said a delighted Watson.

‘The weather came out nice, we had a nice strong squad together and it was the FA Cup which is always nice anyway.

‘In terms of the games itself, Shanklin were actually stronger and better than the side we played a year or so back.

‘They came at us and gave us a bit of a game in the first 10 minutes or so.

‘They could even have gone ahead but we reacted very positively.

‘I don’t think the scoreline was down to Shanklin being bad, it was down to us being very good - that was the thing.

‘The whole squad was on fire. We moved the ball well, we were competitive, we pressed well and the finishing was spot on.

‘Whereas sometimes we tend to create 100 chances and maybe score two, at the weekend we took our chances a lot more ruthlessly.'

The victory at Shanklin was Moneys' first competitive action in nearly six months.

Now Moneyfields must wait again, with no scheduled fixture this weekend before facing either US Portsmouth or Southern Regional rivals AFC Bournemouth in a first round qualifying tie on Sunday, October 4.

Moneys take on

Portsmouth Women in the delayed 2019/20 Portsmouth FA Women’s Cup final at Baffins Milton three days later.

It’s Moneyfields Under18s turn tonight for FA Cup action - they host Basingstoke at Dover Road (7pm) in first qualifying round FA Youth Cup action.

The winners are home again in the next round to Aldershot.