Cherries secure place in National League Plate final

AFC Bournemouth Women’s will face Cheltenham Town in the FA National League Plate final following a 3-2 win against Manchester United Academy on Sunday.

Despite going 1-0 down in the 8th minute to Aoife Farrall’s opener, it took the Cherries less than 180 seconds to find an equaliser when Gemma McGuinness turned in Abby Jones’s pinpoint cross.

Steve Cuss’s side continued to threaten the United goal, but goalkeeper Millie Crook made several fine saves to keep the game level going into half-time.

After the break, Bournemouth’s energy went up a notch and Katie James rattled the post moments before Ellie Stripple calmly converted Kenni Thompson’s drilled pass into the box, putting the hosts one goal to the good.

(Image: Zach Sampson)

Molly Barron-Clark made it three when she drilled a corner along the ground and squeezed it through the United defence on the line, midway through the second half.

 

(Image: Zach Sampson)

In a gritty display from both teams, it was The Red Devils who scored the final goal of the game through Mared Griffiths in the 78th minute, setting up a nail-biting closing to the match.

However, the Cherries stayed strong and defended valiantly with the game ending 3-2 as loud cheers erupted at the Ringwood Town 3G.

“I’m really really proud of the team, I thought it was a strong performance,” Confessed Bournemouth Manager Steve Cuss after the game. “I felt like we deserved it; in the first half their keeper made probably four really good saves to keep it level at half time.

“But you know in that second half, I felt if we could get the ball in the attacking areas that we we looked like we could score and I thought we caused them a threat all afternoon and took our chances.”

 

(Image: Zach Sampson)

Asked about reaching the final, Cuss told Buzz News: “We’ve never been this far before, and we really wanted to go that one step more and get into the finals. So to to do that, with a strong performance against, what I’ve got to say is a very good side as well, technically, and some really good young players that they had was a great result for us today.”

The final is yet to have a location in place but Bournemouth will be eager to get the better of Cheltenham Town, who play in the league above, in their first ever FA National League Final Plate final.