The Vitality Stadium is set for another entertaining encounter this time between the hosts AFC Bournemouth Women and Oxford United Women. With The Cherries looking to keep their undefeated record in the league and close the gap to leaders Watford, visitors Oxford United are looking for another 3 points after their dominant display against Billericay Town Women.
The first five minutes is exactly how The Cherries would have wanted the game to start. With a fast-paced attacking start The Cherries won a corner which got cleared away by the visitors, who had a chance of their own at the other end but was handled well by Erin Foley. The home side then broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with a well-timed ball out to the left hand side to Harris who cut in and placed the ball neatly into the right hand corner.
After an attacking breakaway, Oxford United won a corner in the 14th minute which was cleared by the home side and led to a well-worked counter attacking move with Sophie Quirk having a shot from distance giving them a two goal advantage. The home side kept up the attacking threat with James and Bowers working well down the wing to force a save from U’s keeper Wookey.
Oxford United were unfortunately forced into an early change after striker Holly Turner collided with an AFC Bournemouth defender with Emma Thompson taking her place upfront. It was a strong start from the substitute who put a ball just wide of the post.
The home side started the second half with the same intensity and applied pressure to the Oxford defence. But after a corner was swung in by United’s Grace Palmer, AFC Bournemouth struggled to clear their box and the visitors had their best chance of the game with captain Bedeau striking the bar. Another effort was attempted by the visitors but was comfortably seen wide by Foley.
A few more chances were created by the home side with Kelci Bowers taking on a shot from just outside the box but didn’t trouble the visiting keeper Wookey. A late Oxford corner in the game by Jenna Legg was neatly finished by substitute Shaunna Jenkins in the final few minutes. Oxford United continued to apply the pressure but it wasn’t enough and The Cherries continued their unbeaten win to 8 games in the league putting them top the the table.
AFC Bournemouth Women Lineup: Erin Foley, Jess Hennessy, Freya Meadows Tuson, Kenni Thompson (69’), Sophie Quirk, Katie James, Elena Cole (83’), Jenna Markham (77’), Kelci Bowers (73’), Amber Treweek, Charlotte Harris
Substitutes: Abby Jones (73’), Katie Scadding, Phoebe Williams (83’), Georgia Wilson (69’), Molly Barron-Clark (77’), Gemma McGuinness, Emilia Newton (83’)
Oxford United Women Lineup: Bethany-May Wookey, Nicola Gibson (62’), Kate Wiseman (91’), Naomi Bedeau, Riva Casley, Nicole Barret (62’), Jenna Legg, Holly Turner (31’), Grace Palmer, Maisy Barker, Holly Manders (73’)
Substitutes: Maddison Millington-Stanbury, Shaunna Jenkins (62’), Shelly Proven (73’), Ruby Sealey (62’), Lucy Trinder (91’), Emma Thompson (31’)