| Previous league meetings have always favoured
the claret and blue of Buckinghamshire, who in the previous season
took a convincing 6 points and 6 goals from the Cherries. However,
despite surrendering the top spot at Plymouth last week Bournemouth
arrived at Chapel Gate believing that they could make amends for the
slip up last Sunday.
Manager Shaun Langrish and Chairman Neil Prince were also happy to
announce the debut of new signing Alex Cottier to the injury stricken
cherries squad. Alex joins AFCB Ladies after successful spells at both
Arsenal and Southampton Saints.
Cherries kicked off the game in positive form and the opening 15
minutes saw some determined play at the back and confident forward
work by Bell and Langrish. It wasn`t long before United found their
feet and pushed forward with pace and well drilled pass and move play.
However the Cherries remained resolute in the defending third and
Chesham were restricted to shots from distance, which Simkin dealt
with comfortably. After weathering a good 10 minute spell from United,
Bournemouth regained some composure with Little picking out Bell
running into space down the right flank.
Reading the run of Langrish perfectly Bell flicked the ball into
her path only for Langrish to drill just wide of
goal. Chesham appeared taken aback with the Cherries forward play
and it wasn`t long before Roe was played in by new signing Cottier.
Some trickery by the corner flag gave Roe room to riffle a cross
low across the face of goal to the arrival of Keehan who went for
power over placement. Wide again.
Roe regained possession and pulled back for Heydon who fired
straight at Chesham No1. It appeared to be Uniteds half until the 36th
minute when Roe was pulled back by the Chesham captain. Cottier
stepped up and sent a fine ball to the back post where Howarth rose to
head down for Langrish to place in the back of the net.
Chesham pushed forward after the restart and were unlucky not to
level before the break as a well worked free kick was headed to safety
by the competent Cottier.
HT 1 - 0
Chesham started brightly after the break with Odeniyi and Sandells
breaking forward with pace, but 16 year old Rachael Grierson in her
second game for the Cherries showed great determination and made some
fine last gasp challenges to deny United any chances. Goater and Neill
came on to replace Morgan and Keehan as Cherries changed things
tactically in search of a second goal. Bell, Cottier and Roe linked up
well after Cottier blocked a run by Sandells. Bell fed Roe who picked
out langrish at the near post. Langrish diving headed attempt seemed a
certain goal but the ball just escaped her. Heydon pushed further
forward and receiving the ball from Little dropped a lovely weighted
ball between the Chesham centre halves only fro Langrish to see her
chance wide.
United made the most of a dubious tackle by Bell whos frustrations
were evident. As the ball came in a lack of concentration saw a
clinical finish by the Chesham forward.
Cherries searched for a winner but to no avail. The game ended all
square with Bournemouth feeling they had lost 2 points, which would
have seen them back to the top of the table. |
