Bath’s double helps Pompey retain Portsmouth FA Senior Women’s Cup with victory over Moneyfields

The midfielder netted a second half double as Jay Sadler’s team defeated two divisions lower Moneyfields 4-1.

The scoreline didn’t flatter Pompey at all as they were clearly the better team throughout.

Moneys rarely threatened as an attacking force until Ciara Boylan bagged a consolation goal two minutes from time.

The result was the same as the previous encounter between the two teams, in the semi-final of the same competition in 2018/19.

Pompey went on to batter Horndean 15-0 in the final.

This final was a lot closer, though the teams were only level for less than a minute before Pompey took the lead through skipper Jade Bradley’s low shot past Lauren Sawlyer.

It was 2-0 on 24 minutes when striker Jade Widdows took one touch to control the ball before scoring with her second inside the area.

Sawyer was kept busy in the five minutes leading up to half-time.

First she saved from Kat Cunningham, at the expense of a corner, before gathering a 20-yard effort from Bath.

Best of all, she saved well when Ava Rowbotham was given a clear sight of goal.

Pompey could have had an early goal in the second period, Tamsin de Bunsen taking advantage of defensive hesitation to round Sawlyer but only managing to fire an angled shot into the side netting.

It was 3-0 on 55 minutes, though, when Bath rose highest to head in a corner.

The same player should have had a second shortly after, but arriving at the far post she fired over the bar from a Cunningham cross.

Not to be denied, Bath grabbed her second on 67 minutes with a powerful left-footed drive from just inside the area.

Kim Stenning did get the ball into the Pompey net, but referee James Crascall had already blown for a foul on keeper Hannah Haughton.

But Moneys refused to give in and netted a deserved consolation late on.

Boylan turned her marker just inside the penalty area before firing a shot over Haughton and into the roof of the net.

Moneys threatened again a minute later but Sheree Bell-Jack was unable to make contact as the ball bounced within the six-yard box.

Both teams now face important games this weekend.

Pompey play their first home FA Women’s National League South Division game on Hawks’ new 3G pitch on Sunday against Plymouth Argyle (2pm).

Moneys, meanwhile, host Southern Regional Division rivals AFC Bournemouth in the FA Women’s Cup. The winners will travel to Southampton Women in the next round.

Starting XIs

Pompey: Haughton, Rowe, Bridge, Ingram, Younger, Bath, Bradley. Rowbotham, Cunningham, Widows, de Bunsen.

Moneyfields: Sawlyer, McKeag, Eldridge, Goodall, Whitcombe, Shorter, Webster, Boylan, Stenning, Tonks, Bell-Jack.