AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth women’s development squad recorded back-to-back wins, as they continued their unbeaten start in the Hampshire Women’s League.
Last weekend, the side gained on top of the league Down Grange Ladies with a 3-1 win, while the previous Sunday had seen them beat local side Bournemouth Sports Ladies 2-0.
The game against Bournemouth Sports started in excellent fashion for the Cherries as Ayuma Asira opened the scoring within the first minute. Good build up play through the midfield saw Morgan Hill receive the ball on the edge of the box, before slipping to Asira, who shot low past the goalkeeper.
Bournemouth Sports were to fashion some chances themselves in the opening half an hour, which saw them rattle the crossbar and shoot narrowly wide.
These missed opportunities, however, were soon to be costly as Rosie Nicklen scored a fantastic goal, shooting into the top left corner from outside of the penalty area to see the Cherries win 2-0.
This good from continued into last weekend’s home tie against Down Grange Ladies, who sit at the top of the Hampshire FA Women’s League.
After the opening ten minutes, the Cherries side began to take control of the game and Aimee Collier was starting to see more of the ball in the centre of the park, and it would be her who opened the scoring.
The ball broke in the Cherries’ defensive third and within four passes it was in the back of the Down Grange net, after Collier sprinted into the box before finishing low in the corner.
The opening goal changed the complexion of the game as, after this point, Bournemouth found their passing rhythm and completely dominated the midfield zone which led to numerous chances being created.
One presented itself for Helen Corbin, who was working well in partnership with Emily Gard, but her shot was saved by the opposition goalkeeper.
More chances were to be created but Bournemouth could not add to the score despite Corbin hitting the post from a corner.
With the score at 1-0, the home side continued their dominance from the first half, doubling their advantage in the 55th minute of the game when Collier added her second. Having picked the ball up in midfield she drove at the Down Grange defenders and her shot, from outside the box, went in off the far post.
Collier continued to dominate the game and was the outstanding performer on the day, even having the chance to complete her hat-trick, but she was unable to convert a low cross late in the second half.
With the game seemingly in cruise control, it was to be the opposition that scored next. Having won a foul on the left of the Bournemouth penalty area, the Down Grange free-kick went over Cherries ‘keeper Steph Small and into the net.
This gave the away side the motivation to try and search for an equaliser, however within minutes they fell a further goal behind when Sofia Sinaguglia calmly slotted into the net after an excellent run and though ball from Rosie Nicklen.
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