AFC Bournemouth women suffered their first league defeat of the season as they travelled to promotion rivals Cheltenham Town on Sunday afternoon. 

Goals from Charlotte Criddle and Tamzin Hayward gave the hosts a two-goal advantage, before a superb free-kick from Katie James pulled one back late on for the Cherries. 

It's the side's only loss in the National League this season, with ten wins and four draws to their name prior to yesterday's defeat. 

Steve Cuss' team sit second in the table, two points behind the Robins and with one game more played. 

After the game, he spoke with afcb.co.uk about the result and performance. 

"We're really disappointed, especially to lose our first game of the season," said Cuss.

"It's never easy, but overall I can't argue too much. I didn't think we were at our fluid best today, we didn't move that ball or control that ball and it became a little bit frantic, especially in the first half.

"We didn't really get a grip of the game and we gave away too many fouls against a good, experienced side. We then found ourselves trailing and it was difficult.

"We had plenty of the ball and plenty of possession, but we probably didn't do enough with it today to warrant winning the game. 

"I didn't think there was much in it in terms of goalscoring opportunities. They did hit the post early on, but I felt that we got into some good areas. Normally in those areas we're quite clinical and we work it quite well to get a shot on goal.

"We didn't really work them in behind as much as we wanted to today. We had a few long-range shots that 'keeper did well to save, but we didn't have enough in behind them. We had to control the ball, move it and play, and unfortunately we didn't quite do enough of that to create those chances today." 

Cuss went on to discuss the lessons that can be learned for his young side, who battled tooth and nail all afternoon against a squad of senior players. 

"It's a learning experience. We want to be a club that plays in these types of games regularly and a lot of young players have experienced that for the first time today.

"I said to them after the game, it's part of the learning process and part of the finer details in a very, very close game. Crucially, it was going to be important whoever got the first goal. 

"There's lots to be learned today, particularly for the younger members of the squad but also for the older ones. We want to be part of these top-of-the-table games."