Moneyfields end their record-breaking season in style, after successfully retaining the PDFA Cup in a goal-fest of a final against AFC Porchester at Westleigh Park.
Last night’s PDFA final win is now back-to-back years that Moneys have won the trophy, which this time around nicely complements the highest finish in the club’s history at second in the WNL South West.
A ruthless first half saw Karl Watson’s side net five times before the interval, with four goals being scored within the opening twenty minutes of last night’s tie.
It was an emotional brace for club Legend Charley Wilson-Wilton who was at the double in the second forty five and the midfielder almost secured a hat-trick, just like she almost did in Sunday’s game against Swindon Town.
Moneys got things going instantly, when Meg Fox was in the box to tap home Shannon Albuery’s in-swinging corner just three minutes into action to make it one-nil.
Beth Burgess fired and ambitions shot at goal which smashed the inside of the post, but moments later the winger was on hand to finish off Maisie Aldridge’s cross into the area to make it two-nil just eight minutes gone.
It was eventually a third for Moneys fifteen minutes in and it was some goal from Bekah Tonks, whose looping effort from outside the area flew into the top left-hand corner, arguably scoring goal of the evening to make it three-nil. In the twentieth minute, Shannon Albuery then got her goal, when the forward tapped in a parried ball from the Portchester keeper to make it four-nil.
Albuery was then at the double with a finish that argues with Tonksy’s goal as goal of the night, when she smashed the ball into the roof of the net from outside the box to make it five-nil moments before half-time.
Half time: AFC Portchester 0-5 Moneyfields
Karl Watson made two changes at half-time, with Brooke Garcia, Britt Jeal and Kimberly Fuller coming on for Olivia Venditto, Shannon Albuery and Lucy Cooper.
It did not take long to make it six and it was Charley Wilson-Wilton who did exactly that, when she dinked the ball over the top of the Portchy keeper and despite the effort of the Portchester defence to clear the ball off the line, it was inevitably six-nil to Moneys just forty-seven minutes on the clock.
Skye-Louise Granger was the fourth sub of the night, with the defender being replaced by Katelyn Wort an hour gone.
Bekah Tonks also came off for winger Sarah Butterworth, who filled in at right back for the final half-hour left to play.
Wilson-Wilton then went on to make it seven on sixty-five minutes and score her second of the game, and the veteran midfielder was so close to scoring a hat-trick, but the woodwork came to the Portchy keeper’s aid to deny Charley late on.
Full time: AFC Portchester 0-7 Moneyfields
Moneyfields: 21. Shine (GK), 12. Venditto 45’, 5. Phelps, 8. Granger 60’, 14. Aldridge, 9. Albuery 45’, 4. Tonks 60’ 17. Fox, 24. Wilson-Wilton (C), 10. Burgess, 12. Cooper 45’
Subs: Butterworth 60’, Fuller 45’, Wort 60’, Jeal 45’, Garcia 45’
At full time, manager Karl Watson and Captain Charley Wilson-Wilton spoke to the media team to reflect on a phenomenal 7-0 final win.
Karl said: “Charley has been a legend of the women’s game, everyone knows what she’s done, it’s been a privilege to have her here at Moneyfields, can’t say I’m not going to be chasing her or phoning her through the summer and asking one more time Char? We’ll see how that goes and at the moment, she’s enjoying herself and that’s what she gets all the accolades we get and they just don’t make them like Char anymore.”
Watson added: “It was chalk and cheese, that’s why they drive me mad every week!
I mean, Fair play to Portchester, they were battling through the night, but we really showed up tonight, and we needed that after Sunday, some of the goals were phenomenal.”
Charley said: “This moment is definitely up there. I can’t take it all in at the moment, I think once I reflect, I’ll be thinking about this night, it’s been amazing.”
Wilson-Wilton added: “I just want to say I’ve loved every minute here at Moneyfields, I love this club to bits and thank you to all the coaches and Karl and my wife who the season has come and supported me sunshine or rain.”
Words: David Howes / Photo: Tom Phillips
