‘We can’t get carried away with any emotion’ – message to Moneyfields players ahead of US Portsmouth return

Blu Boam (left) and Tom Cain in action during Moneyfields' 4-1 Wessex League derby win over US Portsmouth at Dover Road last September. The two clubs meet again on Tuesday. Picture: Martyn White

That is the message the Moneyfields squad will be given ahead of Tuesday’s Portsea Island derby at US Portsmouth.

Six of the side that started Moneys’ 5-1 weekend Wessex League win against Christchurch - Tom Cain, Josh Hazell, Callum Glen, James Franklyn, Dec Seiden and Tyler Moret - were at USP last season. A seventh, Elliott Turnbull, was on the bench.

Moneys will have more of last season’s USP squad on show than the hosts at the Victory Stadium. Only four of the team that started against Hythe at the weekend - Tom Jeffes, Dan Sibley, Cameron Quirke and Frankie Paige - were at the club in 2020/21.

A fifth, goalkeeper Tom Price, could figure after being overlooked in favour of Dylan Kramer against Hythe.

Moneys assistant boss Fraser Quirke is well aware of the threat mid-table US can pose. He has watched his son, Cameron, twice in recent weeks alone as US have drawn with Wessex title-chasers Baffins and lost 4-0 to two tiers higher Gosport Borough in the Portsmouth Senior Cup.

‘They (US) are a decent side, there’s certainly going to be no complacency on our part,’ said Fraser Quirke.

‘They thoroughly deserve their point at Baffins, they didn’t give up at any point, and they showed their never-say-die attitude against Hythe by coming from behind to win at the weekend.

‘We’ve got to treat it as just another game, we can’t get carried away with any emotion from the past.’

USP are unbeaten in their last four league games, taking eight points, and boss Tom Grice said: ‘Confidence is high.

‘It’s certainly the most confidence I’ve had in the squad this season, so bring it on.

‘No disrespect to Moneyfields, but I’m looking for three points. There’s no huge secrets in how they’re going to play, so let’s see how it pans out.’

US lost 4-1 at Dover Road last September, with Steve Hutchings scoring two fine second half headers.

Hutchings, though, remains sidelined with a knee injury so Tyler Moret and Dec Seiden could again start up front as they did against Christchurch.