Cuss hails belief in squad after dramatic late win at Bridgwater
AFC Bournemouth
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Manager Steve Cuss hailed the belief of his players as they left it late to continue their winning run on the road in National League Division One South West.
With their clash at Bridgwater United level at 2-2 going into the dying moments, the away side found goals from Kenni Thompson and substitute Lucy Cooper to record a dramatic 4-2 victory.
Earlier in the contest, Chloe Gilroy had opened the scoring after Cherries goalkeeper Daniela Kosinska had been stretchered off due to injury, meaning midfielder Katie James went in goal for the visitors.
Fi Barry scored an equaliser for the hosts with a well-taken free-kick, before Molly Barron-Clark put Cuss’s side back in front with a rocket of a strike from 25 yards.
The game was deadlocked again at 2-2 when Libby Gimson poked in from a corner early in the second half. Barron-Clark and Cooper hit the woodwork before Thompson netted a third two minutes from time.
Cooper then put the gloss on a dramatic away-day, ensuring the Cherries remain eight points behind league leaders Exeter City with two games in hand.
Cuss told afcb.co.uk: “There were times where it looked like it was drifting away from us but we showed a huge amount of belief to keep going and score the goals late in the game to win it.
“I said to the players they could have got their heads down and thought ‘it’s not going to be our day’ but they found that strength and there was some real ability there to go and create that final chance we needed.
“Fair play to the players, I felt they deserved all the credit for sticking at it and getting the win.”
Victory for the Cherries was their 15th in 17 league games this season, with just two draws in an unbeaten league campaign.
“There were real ups and downs,” said Cuss.
“I thought we were good at times and impressive. Obviously, the injury to Dani has marred it.
“It was really tough with KJ in goal but I thought she was excellent, she controlled it, being able to pass out from the back as well.
“She was a little bit unfortunate with the goals that went in but it was a strong performance from the team.”
AFC Bournemouth: Kosinska (Hillier, 26), Venditto, Treweek, Jones, James, Barron-Clark, Smith (Cooper, 67), Butler (Buckingham, 67), Gilroy (Bowers, 89), Bloomfield (Elkins, 89), Thompson.
Booked: Smith.
