Why a Fratton Park final would bring ‘kudos’ back to the Portsmouth & District FA Women’s Senior Cup

Kim Whitcombe was among the Moneyfields players who arrived late at Newbury after a car broke down on the A34. Picture: Keith Woodland

Moneys are due to meet Portsmouth’s first team for the first time since the club were formed three years ago in this season’s final.

But due to a succession of clubs withdrawing, both teams have only played one game to get there.

Moneys thrashed US Portsmouth 12-1 in the only first round tie played, before AFC Petersfield and Gosport Falcons both pulled out.

‘The competition has lost a bit of the kudos it used to have,’ said Watson.

‘I think last season only four clubs entered, so this year they made it mandatory.

‘But clubs have kept on pulling out all the time.

‘Now wouldn’t it be great if Portsmouth Woman could play in the Portsmouth Cup final at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park?

‘That would be a great occasion and would bring some of the kudos back.’

Before then, Moneys have two big games against AFC Bournemouth in the space of eight days.

Watson’s squad travel to Verwood next Sunday to face the Cherries in the semi-finals of the Southern Region League Cup.

Then, at Dover Road on March 8, they welcome the Dorset club for a game which could go a long way towards deciding the title.

At present, Moneys and Cherries are locked together on points at the top of the table.

Moneys, though, have a game in hand.

At the weekend Moneys recorded a 3-1 win at Newbury, while Bournemouth hammered Oxford 8-2.

Moneys have won all their league games so far, while the only loss the Cherries have suffered was a 3-0 home defeat to Watson’s side.

Moneys, chasing their third successive promotion, recovered from a problematic start at Newbury to claim a ninth straight league success.

A car containing coach Lil Johnson and four players - Sophie Kingsley-Cabell, Kaylee Edwards, Kim Whitcombe and Olivia Pinhorne - broke down on the A34 en route to the ground.

That resulted in the game starting with Moneys only having 10 players, as the hosts refused to delay the kick off.

‘It was a chaotic start,’ said Watson. ‘Not surprisingly, we were a bit disjointed early on.’

After falling behind, Whitcombe quickly levelled and second half goals followed from Nicole Matthews and Kingsley-Cabell.

Portsmouth Woman’s horrendous luck with postponements continued at the weekend.

Their clash with Crawley at Gosport’s Privett Park was called off due to the latest batch of rain to drench the south coast in the past five months.

That leaves Jay Sadler’s side having only played seven of their 22 Southern Premier League games - the last of which took place in November!