Moneyfields 'not scared' by visit to Lionesses

Moneyfields insist they are “up for the fight” when they face their biggest-ever match this weekend – a Women’s FA Cup fourth-round tie.

The National League Division One South West side were only founded in 2017 but travel to Championship outfit London City Lionesses on Sunday.

Coach Hannah Humphreys told BBC Radio Solent: “It’s a huge game for us.

“This game goes to show how far we’ve come and it’s a great opportunity to get us on the map.”

The Portsmouth-based club, who play in the fourth tier of the women’s game, overcame Gloucester City, Ashford Town (Middx), Haringey Borough and Millwall Lionesses before Christmas to book a date with London City at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

Humphreys said: “We have worked really hard the last few seasons to establish who we are as a club and a team.

“We’ve got a really good local following, we’ve seen that grow due to the build-up [of the club]. We’ve had a lot of support and a lot of other Hampshire teams have got behind us and want us to do well. It’s definitely sparked a lot of interest.”

While London City were vying for promotion to the Women’s Super League last season, Humphreys insisted Moneys will not be heading to Kent to make up the numbers.

“An FA Cup game, no matter what opposition you are playing, anything can happen,” she said. “This is a really hard test but we are by no means backing down.

“We want to go and put on a really good performance, put up a fight – we don’t want people to think we’re going into the game to sit back and try to minimise the scoreline.

“We want to try and hurt the opposition and show what we can do. We are not letting the level of opposition scare us.”

Sunday’s winners will pocket £54,000 in prize money while the losing team will earn £13,000 and Humphreys admitted: “It’s absolutely massive for us.

“We have to put in so much work to ensure we have enough financial backing that the girls can play football without having to worry.

“We don’t charge our players – a lot of clubs have to. This will help us become a bit more comfortable.”