AFC Bournemouth’s tense 2-1 win over National League counterparts Moneyfields set up a mouthwatering promotion decider against fellow high-fliers Exeter City.
First-half goals from Kenni Thompson and Molly Barron-Clark paved the way for the Cherries to triumph in their penultimate Division One South West game of the season on Thursday.
Steve Cuss’s team were also indebted to goalkeeper Dani Kosińska who made a stunning save in added time to preserve their lead and ensure the title race would go down to the wire.
Victory for the Cherries at Chichester City’s Oaklands Park lifted them to the top of the table, a point ahead of Exeter who visit Portishead Town on Sunday.
The Cherries face off against the Grecians at Exwick Sports Hub on Sunday 5th May with the winners clinching promotion to Southern Premier Division, the third tier of the women’s pyramid.
Bermuda international Thompson bagged her seventh goal of the season after ten minutes against Moneys, although the hosts levelled through Kau’inohea Taylor, who hails from Hawaii.
However, it was Portsmouth born and bred Barron-Clark who took star billing, the 32-year-old adding to her assist for Thompson’s opener by netting a stunning winner in the 28th minute.
Deep in stoppage time, Kosińska, returning following an injury layoff, saved the day when she threw herself full length to her left to somehow claw away a fierce strike from Gemma Simmonds.
Click through the arrows above to see a gallery of pictures from the game.
