Bournemouth Women Give Southampton Hammering At Packed Out Vitality

There was plenty to celebrate at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth Women delivered a stunning statement on a memorable afternoon in front of more than 6,000 supporters.

The Cherries comfortably dispatched Southampton PGA with an impressive and comprehensive 9-0 victory in the FA Women’s National League Cup, combining some superb attacking flair, intensity and ruthless finishing to produce a result that reflected the growing ambition around the women’s side.

Yet the scoreline was only part of the story, with the Vitality Stadium providing the backdrop and a sizeable crowd turning out to support the team, the occasion underlined the increasing interest in women’s football across Bournemouth and the wider south coast.

For the players, after their move to Weymouth - which was greeted cynically by supporters, it was an opportunity to perform on one of the club’s biggest stages, and they seized it emphatically - nine goals, a clean sheet and thousands of supporters leaving the stadium with plenty to talk about made it an afternoon to remember.

Georgia Wilson led the charge with a superb hat trick, while Issy Bryant struck twice and Jenna Markham, Bell Hall, Issy Watts and Katie James also found the net as the Cherries delivered a dominant display.

Bournemouth immediately set the tempo, putting Southampton PGA under pressure from the opening whistle and creating a number of early opportunities from corners and sustained attacks.

The breakthrough arrived after 17 minutes when Bryant delivered a dangerous ball into the area and, with Markham cleverly leaving it, Wilson was presented with the perfect opportunity to open the scoring from close range.

Wilson was proving a constant threat and doubled the advantage shortly before the half hour mark, when she met a cutback and unleashed a powerful effort that the Southampton goalkeeper watched ball evade her.

The Cherries were now in complete control and quickly added a third. Bryant's effort took a deflection on its way towards goal, leaving the goalkeeper helpless as the ball nestled in the net.

Bournemouth's attacking momentum continued and the fourth arrived in style in the 34th minute. James found space outside the penalty area before striking a superb long range effort beyond the helpless keeper.

Wilson completed her hat trick early in the second half, when in the 52nd minute she made a well timed run through the middle before applying the finish to another inviting Bryant delivery.

The Cherries then continued to pour forward, with substitute Hall almost adding her name to the scoresheet shortly after entering the action. Her effort was saved, but the rebound fell kindly to Watts, who made no mistake from close range to make it 7-0.

The eighth goal arrived in the 75th minute after a scramble inside the Southampton penalty area, with Bella Hall eventually forcing the ball over the line to continue Bournemouth's remarkable afternoon.

Then Abby Jones, another player introduced from the bench, delivered an excellent cross into the area, allowing Bryant to rise highest and power a superb header into the net.

The final whistle confirmed a resounding 9-0 triumph for Helen Bleazard's side, a statement victory made all the more memorable by the huge crowd inside the Vitality Stadium.