AFC Bournemouth Women’s FA Cup run came to a halt against Southampton at Verwood Town this afternoon.

AFC Bournemouth Women’s impressive FA Cup run came to a halt against Southampton at Verwood Town this afternoon.

A brutal opening 10 minutes which saw Ella Pusey net two goals, along with a superb Rachel Panting strike, put the visitors in the driving seat before Lucia Kendall, and a third goal for Pusey, added to the total.

The Cherries were looking to reach the second round for the first time in their history but faced a ruthless Southampton side, who are currently top of the Women's National League.

The visitors showed their class in the opening stages, dominating the early possession and opened the scoring after just three minutes, a low ball into the box was deflected into the path of Ella Pusey who tucked home.

Steve Cuss’s side responded in a positive manner as Hannah Bennett raced onto a ball across the box and forced a save from the Southampton ‘keeper, who had to get down low to make the block.

However, the Saints were excellent on the counter attack and doubled their advantage soon after, Rachel Panting receiving the ball around 20 yards from goal, opening her body and curling into the far top corner.

They extended their lead to three goals after just 10 minutes when the Cherries failed to clear a near-post corner, allowing Phoebe Williams to send in a deep cross to Pusey, who was hovering at the back post to side-foot past Scadding.

The Cherries did recover their composure and started to make an impact on the game, Molly Clark at the centre of a lot of the positive action.

Kayla Rendell, the visiting goalkeeper, raced out to clear a wayward long ball but smashed it against her own defender, giving Clark the opportunity to lift the loose ball over her head but her effort lacked power.

Bennett’s late runs into the box were causing problems and she was almost rewarded after 25 minutes, lovely link-up play down the left flank allowed Gemma Hillier to send in a drilled cross, Bennett darted ahead of her marker and flicked a shot at goal but it fell the wrong side of the post.  

Southampton, managed by former England player Marieanne Spacey-Cale, were extremely clinical in-front of goal and grabbed their fourth through Lucia Kendall. Pusey showed a good turn of pace to drive into the box and cut back for the forward to slide home in the bottom left corner.

The best chance for the Cherries came just before half-time, Clark played a lovely ball into the path of Hillier, who had beaten the offside trap, but her effort was straight at the onrushing ‘keeper.

In the final moments of the first half, Pusey – who was looking for her hattrick – found space behind the Cherries backline and drilled a low effort towards the bottom corner, Scadding doing excellently to get down and tip it wide.

Southampton continued to dominate proceedings in the second half, Pusey again finding space inside the box, but her effort was easily saved by Scadding, who was wearing gloves donated by men's goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

The Cherries made their first substitutions close to the hour mark as Helen Corbin and Emma Davis were replaced by Lily Humes and Chloe Newton, the latter featuring against her former side.

Southampton’s best chance of the second period came in the 65^th minute, a lovely-whipped cross was met by substitute Alisha Ware but her sliding effort found the side-netting.

The fifth goal did come in the 70^th minute as Pusey netted her hattrick. The forward raced onto a perfectly weighted through ball and she lifted it over Scadding, despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts.

There was one major positive for Steve Cuss’ side in the 72^nd minute when Charlotte Eastman replaced Katelyn Wort, her first appearance in over a year following a torrid time with injury.

Pusey almost grabbed her fourth goal before time as she rolled her marker and got a shot off, but she could only fire wide.

The Cherries almost ended the game with a consolation goal, Molly Clark’s long-distance free-kick was struck sweetly and was fumbled by Rendell but she managed to gather it before Newton could score the rebound.

AFC Bournemouth: Scadding, Jones, Wort (Eastman 72’), Smith, Davis (Humes 57’), Kingshott, Bennett ©, Barron (White 68’), Clark, Hillier (Miles 85’), Corbin (Newton 57’)
UNUSED: Eden, Topping, Harvey, Thickett. 

AFC Bournemouth Women are proudly supported by two local companies.

Thank you to Bournemouth University for being the front of shirt sponsor and thank you to Vitality for supporting our women’s and girls' setup.