Goals from Kenni Thompson, Lucy Cooper and Erin Bloomfield ensured AFC Bournemouth retained the Adopt South Women’s Hampshire Senior Cup thanks to a 3-1 win over Southampton under-21s.

The trio were on target as the Cherries emerged victorious in a repeat of last season’s final, with Aldershot’s EBB Stadium hosting this year’s showpiece.

Victory for Steve Cuss’s team capped a remarkable season which saw them pipped for promotion by Exeter City despite remaining unbeaten in National League Division One South West.

Thompson, who was named player of the match, drew first blood for the Cherries when she coolly converted a 20^th-minute penalty, awarded for handball by Saints defender Kate Jeffery.

However, Kaylee Buckingham, the younger sister of Cherries striker Alisha, headed home to level in the 38th minute.

But the Cherries reached the break leading 2-1 after Cooper bundled the ball into the back of the net following Thompson’s corner.

And Bloomfield came off the bench to put the finishing touches to the win when she headed home Molly Barron-Clark’s free-kick in the last minute of added time.

Thompson’s pinpoint crossfield pass to Gemma McGuinness created the first clear opportunity for the Cherries after eight minutes.

McGuinness neatly controlled the ball before turning her marker and unleashing a fierce drive which was acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Southampton goalkeeper Mia King.

King and Molly Barron-Clark collided as they challenged for Thompson’s cross, both players continuing following a spell of treatment.

Appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears after McGuinness had gone to ground under a challenge by Saints defender Kate Jeffery in the 15^th minute.

Barron-Clark tried her luck from distance, the midfielder’s strike from fully 40 yards flashing past the upright.

Referee Krasimir Petrov had no hesitation in immediately pointing to the spot after Thompson’s effort had struck the arm of Jeffrey.

And Bermudan international Thompson sent King the wrong way, her penalty finding the bottom corner to give the Cherries a 20^th-minute lead.

King required another lengthy spell of treatment after she had taken the full force of a Gemma Hillier strike from 20 yards in the face, the goalkeeper given the all-clear.

Barron-Clark’s free-kick from 25 yards again saw King called into action, the Saints goalkeeper getting down at her near post to save with her leg.

Cherries goalkeeper Dani Kosińska saved comfortably from Madeline Hotston and Sofia Mallon as the Saints fashioned two half-chances in quick succession around the half-hour.

Kaylee Buckingham levelled the clash in the 38^th minute, the striker meeting Daisy Beard’s corner with a firm header from around eight yards which found the back of the net – the first goal conceded by the Cherries in this year's competition.

As the Cherries looked to regain the lead, Hillier, teed up by Barron-Clark, lifted her shot from the edge of the box over the crossbar.

Cooper restored their one-goal advantage when she poked the ball home from close range after Thompson’s corner on the stroke of half-time had led to a frantic goalmouth scramble.

And Thompson almost made it 3-1 when she scampered down the left flank before drilling a shot narrowly wide of the post.

King pulled off a top-drawer save to push Barron-Clark’s deflected shot on to the post following some silky skills from the Cherries midfielder to create the opening.

Barron-Clark seized on a defensive lapse early in the second half, her rasping drive pushed around the post by King.

Another Barron-Clark strike deflected off Saints defender Anya Lucas and narrowly cleared the crossbar before Amber Treweek’s hooked effort was saved by King.

Thompson’s glancing header from Barron-Clark’s corner bounced the wrong side of the upright as the Cherries continued to probe for a third goal.

Jeffery went close to levelling when her 25-yard drive came crashing back off the woodwork in the 74^th minute with Sky Bedwell lofting the rebound high over the crossbar.

McGuinness showed great endeavour to steal the ball in the 18-yard box, the winger taking aim from an acute angle and seeing her effort hit the post in the 79^th minute.

Bloomfield had the final say when she added the Cherries' third goal with a delightful flicked header from a Barron-Clark free-kick in the last of seven minutes of injury time.

AFC Bournemouth: Kosińska, Jones (Bowers, 90), Treweek, Smith, Venditto, James (Elkins, 90), Hillier (A Buckingham, 76), Barron-Clark, McGuinness (Bloomfield, 86), Cooper (Gilroy, 56), Thompson.

Southampton under-21s: King, Lucas, Beard, Jeffery, K Buckingham, Bedwell, Watts (Henry, 68), Mallon (Udebhulu, 68), Nohasiarisoa, Hotston (Peachey, 56), Surin (Machado, 90).

Unused sub: Cornish (g/k).

Referee: Krasimir Petrov.

Attendance: 731.