By Tara Alice Murray at Princes Park, Dartford. 14/1/24
Above: London City Lionesses celebrate as they progress into the next round. Photo: Mariella Prew
A tense and physical game in the fourth round of the FA Cup saw London City Lionesses triumphing over Moneyfields after a close-run first half.
The matchup of Championship side London City Lionesses against fourth-tier Moneyfields in the fourth round proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup saw two teams vying to make history by taking their club a step further through the cup than ever before. For Moneyfields, founded in 2017, this was their first time past the first-round proper of this cup and the team did not back down from the challenge facing them.
The game saw strong attacking and physical starts from both sides, with Moneyfields pressing hard against the London City Lionesses backline and immediately producing chances.
Sisters, Kayleigh and Bekah Tonks, along with Sophie Phelps and Emma Moody were able to absorb any pressure that came their way with Lionesses unable to test debutant Rose Kite in the Moneyfields goal.
Throughout the first half, the teams felt evenly matched. Both teams struggled to maintain possession but managed to produce several chances with Moneyfields creating multiple breakaways past London City Lionesses’ backline.
As the fourth official signalled for one minute of added time, Moneys hearts were broken when London City Lionesses finally managed to produce the opening goal through Ruesha Littlejohn’s wonderful finish.
In the second half, both teams came out strong resulting in an aggressive start to the half and the first card of the game was drawn against London City Lionesses’ Georgia Brougham booking her in the 48th minute.
As the 50th minute rolled around London City lionesses began to command the game, maintaining possession and controlling the pitch. This culminated in a 55th-minute goal by London City Lionesses’ number two Grace Neville which was followed by a 59th-minute goal from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah – arguably the goal of the game.
London City Lionesses continued to push forward in search of another goal however, they were impeded by many excellent saves by Rose Kite. Moneys demonstrated incredible perseverance and tenacity throughout the game managing to create excellent forward plays despite finding themselves unable to convert these to goals.
In the 67th minute, both teams made substitutions with Connie Scofield and Leanne Cowan taking over from Rusha Littlejohn and Emma Mukandi for London City Lionesses and Kiera Heslam replacing Kimberly Fuller for Moneyfields.
These substitutions caused immediate change in the game with Danielle Carter producing a goal for London City Lionesses from a corner in the 69th minute.
Moneyfields attempted to create some change in the game making substitutions in the 74th minute and 80th minutes to no avail. London City Lionesses also adjusted their line-up in the 78th minute replacing Grace Neville, Lucy Fitzgerald and Lois Joel with Niamh Farrelly, Tinaya Alexander, and Izzy Groves.
London City Lionesses were successful in holding off an ever-persistent Moneyfields and saw out the game a 4-0 victory.
Teams:
London City Lionesses: Cull (GK), Neville, Mukandi, Brougham, Joel (C), Fitzgerald, Carter, Wilde, Culver, Littlejohn, Boye-Hlorkah
Substitutes Used: Scofield (67’), Cowen (67’), Farrelly (78’), Alexander (78’), Groves. (78’)
Goal scorers – Littlejohn (45+1’), Neville (55’), Boye-Hlorkah (59’), Carter (69’)
Moneyfields: Kite (GK), Moody, Phelps, Pearce, Taylor, Burgess, Fuller, R.Tonks, K.Tonks, Simmonds, Wilson-Wilton (C)
Substitutes Used: Heslam (67’), Hay (74’), Jenkins (80’), Wild (80’)
Attendance – Unannounced
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