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Harris anticipating even final vs Argyle but she has "full faith" Cherries can win

Helen Bleazard’s side reached the final for the first time with a victory over West Brom earlier this month, with the Cherries set to head to QPR’s Loftus Road for the final in March.

The two sides have met already in the league, as they played out a 0-0 draw in Devon back in October, and both are among those challenging for promotion from the National League Southern Premier Division.

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The Cherries and Argyle are then set to meet twice in a week next month, with a league game at the Ringwood Community Hub the week before the cup final.

Reflecting on the earlier meeting, Harris told the Daily Echo: “It was, I would say, a bit of a nerve-wracking game when we played them.

Charlotte Harris (Image: Richard Crease)

“I think both of us knew the weight of the game. They had started the season really well and we were still unbeaten and we wanted to remain unbeaten. So I think because they are so defensively strong and we're so defensively strong, it was an even match completely.

“I think in the final, I would say that you're more willing to take risks. You know that you have 90 minutes, with additional time maybe, but that's all you've got.

“So it'll be really exciting to see how that game unfolds.

“We actually play them in the league the week before, so it'll be very interesting to see what the result will be that week before and what things change, because again, you can take more risks in a final.

“Potentially send more numbers forward, or however the game plan might change. So I'm excited to play them twice in a week, even though it doesn't seem like an exciting concept.

Charlotte Harris (Image: Richard Crease)

“I think I have full faith in the team that we have, and I think that if we play as well as I know we can play, it will be a really good week for us.”

Looking ahead to the final, Harris added: “I think there's so many things to do with the game that are super exciting.

“This is the furthest we've gone in this competition, which is an amazing achievement.

“It's an opportunity to get silverware, which is always something that's really exciting. And I think taking the two teams out of it, I think for a fan, whether you support Bournemouth, Plymouth, or you're a neutral, it's going to be a great display of women's football.

“I think we have such a talented team, and I think we play in a really exciting style of football. But the same can be said of Plymouth. They don't concede many goals either.

“They've signed some really key players this year, so I think it's going to be a really evenly matched game. But I think in a final, that's what you want. You don't want a whitewash.

“So we're hoping to provide a really good performance and obviously go for the win. And I'm sure that Plymouth have full faith in their team as well, that they can potentially beat us.”

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