Moneyfields Women set for FA Cup opener on the Isle of Wight after ‘difficult’ pre-season

But the manager has no doubt his squad can hit the ground running when they return to competitive action on Sunday.

The club were forced to break their pre-season schedule into two blocks following the announcement that the Southern Region Women's Premier Division would restart on Sunday, October 4, on the back of the pandemic.

It meant that Watson, whose squad had returned to training once lockdown restrictions were eased, was forced to give his players a brief break just as preparations were ramping up before restarting with friendlies and more training.

Despite the disjointed build-up, Moneyfields have still recorded impressive friendly wins over Swindon Town and Chichester and Selsey - one and two leagues higher than them respectively - in recent weeks.

Watson has warned his team not to underestimate the challenge they face at lower league Shanklin in the Women's FA Cup preliminary round season opener on Sunday.

‘It’s not been ideal (pre-season preparation),' he admitted.

‘I’m amongst a large portion of managers in our league with the powers that be who made this decision - we’re one of the latest in the country to get their league restarted.

‘In hindsight, we probably came back a little too soon.

‘With them all itching to get back again after lockdown, as soon as we were allowed the one-to-ones and the five-to-fives we were back out in controlled sessions.

‘We’ve kind of peaked and we had to have a little bit of a rest again before we go again.

‘It’s been tricky, it’s been difficult and it’s definitely been a test.

‘It’s never easy to go to these places (Shanklin)

‘Things can happen on the transport and these journeys but you’ve just got to get the job done no matter who you’re playing.

‘Getting back out onto the football pitch will be a nice dose of medicine and I’m looking forward to seeing us back in competitive action.'

Watson has recruited superbly in the close season, bringing in two players - Sokhara Goodall (Millwall) and Meg McKeag (Crystal Palace) - with Super League experience.

Ex-Southampton Women pair Lauren Sayer and Kayleigh Tonks and former Pompey Women duo Ellie Bloomfield and Frankie Webster are also new in.

Watson said: ‘We’ve brought in players of a good standard across the board.

‘We’ve lost a few but we’ve recruited very well.

‘The ones that we’ve brought in are of the standard, if not higher, then what we had before.'