Moneyfields Women boss demands improvement after ‘embarrassing’ cup final defeat against Portsmouth

Former Portsmouth player Molly Clark has scored two FA Cup hat-tricks for AFC Bournemouth this season - the Cherries now visit Moneyfields this weekend. Picture: Jordan Hampton.

He branded it the 'worst performance in three-and-a-half years' as they suffered a 4-1 loss in the delayed 2019/20 season showpiece at the PMC Stadium in midweek.

Moneys were a goal down in the first minute and Ciara Boylan’s 88th minute goal only a consolation.

Watson insisted he will not accept such a poor showing again.

Moneyfields have the chance to quickly make amends.

They host AFC Bournemouth - a side they will be expecting to do battle with for Southern Premier Division title honours this season - in the FA Cup on Sunday (2pm).

There is also the added incentive of a tie against Southampton Women's team in the next round.

But Watson's sole focus is making sure his players produce the right response after the final defeat to Pompey.

'I was fuming with them afterwards,' he said.

‘What we’ve got to do now is dust ourselves down.

‘I cannot believe we did not turn up on such a big occasion.

‘That now has to become our motivation to make sure we put ourselves back on the map and never let that happen again.

‘I’ve got a lot of sponsors that throw me good money that were there to watch us and it was embarrassing.

'They (the players) need to have a good look at themselves.

'Sunday has now taken on a double meaning.

Promotion has always been the main aim, I’ve stated that from day one.

‘But right now, this minute, no matter what competition it is, this weekend we have to perform for the sake of performing, regardless of what competition it is.

‘We cannot have a second game like that.'

Watson admitted pre-season preparations were far from ideal.

Moneyfields were forced to split their programme into two blocks following the decision for their league to start in October.

But Watson stressed that could not be used as an excuse for the lacklustre PDFA final showing.

‘Yes, we have had a long, dragged and drawn out pre-season,' he added.

‘We’ve had to almost do two pre-seasons because of how the league decided to start so late.

‘It’s been difficult to be consistent, we’ve had two or three teams pull out of scheduled friendlies against us.

‘There’s no room to make any excuses, Sunday we need to perform - it’s as simple as that.'

Bournemouth have a handful of ex-Portsmouth Women regulars in their squad, including Gemma Hillier and Molly Clark.

The latter has scored hat-tricks in the two previous FA Cup rounds against Eastleigh and US Portsmouth.