MILLWALL Lionesses completed an ideal build-up to their Women’s FA Cup third-round tie at National League Moneyfields this Sunday with a comfortable 3-0 victory over improving Aylesford in the L&SERWFL Premier Division last weekend.
Millwall went into the game having won eight matches out of the previous nine, and they duly made it into the top half of the league.
This run coincides with the tenure of joint-managers Alex Russell and Adam Rowland, and with one eye on the cup, they felt able to ring the changes for this match. It was an opportunity to give significant minutes to players new to the club, and also those who want to press their claims for a starting berth this weekend and the ongoing league and cup campaigns.
Seventeen-year-old Melissa Jones, who has been playing on the right wing, started at right-back after her 80-minute stint replacing the injured Millie Connell in that position the previous weekend. Jones joined fellow youngsters Hope Welsh and Emel Huseyin in the Lionesses’ youngest-ever back four.
Starting in midfield were Shay Bennett and newcomer Maizi Garwood, and it was the latter who opened the scoring on 28 minutes with her first goal for Millwall.
Two minutes later, Shannan Drewe added the second.
After the break, Maisie Joyce came on in her usual holding midfield role, and in the 64th minute, Garwood scored her second to make it 3-0.
This gave the managers the chance to make four more substitutions, the most significant being the return of club captain Jordan Butler after she missed most of last season. Sharna Giordani came on at centre-forward and hit the bar after a brilliant run in behind her marker.
Summer James and sixteen-year-old Jess Edwards made up the substitutions, and they all performed well in the last 25 minutes, aiming to be involved at Moneyfields.
That tie is the biggest match for the Lionesses since the FA relegation in 2019, and the recovery from then has been largely achieved thanks to the academy players being given the opportunity to play first-team football. It will be a very young side which takes to the field, and they will undoubtedly benefit from the experience.
Moneyfields, who play in Portsmouth, are riding high in third place in the FA National League South West, and were outstanding against the Lionesses in a pre-season friendly, scoring eight goals. They obviously start as clear favourites, but Millwall are getting closer to full strength with only three players still recovering from injury.
The match is at the Moneyfields Sports Centre at 1pm, and must be played to a finish, going to extra-time and penalties if necessary.
