Classy Kenni catches the eye on Cherries debut

New recruit Kenni Thompson made an immediate impression by netting a stunning goal on her debut in AFC Bournemouth’s 3-0 win over Swindon Town on Sunday.

Thompson, who signed earlier this month from Spanish outfit Eibar, doubled the Cherries’ lead with a finely-executed left-foot strike six minutes before half-time.

The 23-year-old Bermuda international was quickly in the thick of the action, teeing up Gemma McGuinness whose effort in the second minute was saved by Robins goalkeeper Emily McGrogan.

Maisy Smith then set up an opportunity for Helen Bleazard, the goalscoring defender seeing her shot roll agonisingly the wrong side of the upright just four minutes later.

There was no reprieve for the visitors when the Cherries took the lead in the 11^th minute, Lucy Cooper rifling low past McGrogan after latching on to Katie James’s audacious backheel.

Cooper and Abby Jones then combined to fashion an opening for Thompson, who could only find the side netting as she stretched to meet a deep cross.

Daniela Kosińska saved comfortably from Annie Colston before the Cherries goalkeeper was hurt during a frantic goalmouth scramble which eventually saw the hosts clear.

Thompson showed her undoubted class when she finished with accuracy, drilling an unstoppable shot past McGrogan after Smith had rolled the ball invitingly into her path.

James continued to provide the ammunition, although Bleazard, who flicked her corner past the post, and Thompson, who shot narrowly wide from her cross, were unable to find the target.

Molly Barron-Clark also teed up Thompson, her eye-catching debut continuing as she turned inside before unleashing another thunderous drive which just cleared the crossbar.

Barron-Clark, who provided a lively cameo from the bench, saw her venomous strike fly inches over the crossbar after Cooper had created the opportunity.

And after another chance had come her way courtesy of Thompson’s centre, Barron-Clark lifted it over the top from close range before she provided the assist for McGuinness to hit the post.

It was fitting that Barron-Clark should take centre stage as the Cherries completed the scoring through Buckingham four minutes from time.

In attempting to control Chloe Gilroy’s cross, the midfielder lost her footing and slipped over but still managed to head the ball to Buckingham while she was on the ground.

Buckingham made no mistake from inside the six-yard box to put the finishing touches to a fairly comfortable victory which came following a four-week break with no match action.

AFC Bournemouth: Kosińska, Venditto, Bleazard, A Treweek, Jones, James, Smith (Buckingham, 57), Hillier (Barron-Clark, 57), Thompson (Gilroy, 78), Cooper (Bloomfield, 64), McGuinness (Gladwell, 84).

Swindon Town: McGrogan, Haynes (Hull, 78), Clifford, Randall, Viveash, MacDonald, Graham (Vandries, 70), Jarvis, Diaz-Butcher (Evans, 85), Beck-Esson, Colston.

Referee: Martin Ethridge.