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THE Cherries are set to play their first home game at the Bob Lucas Stadium as they welcome Cheltenham Town on Sunday.
AFC Bournemouth got their season off to a winning start last weekend with a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, thanks to a Jenna Markham strike shortly after half-time.
Sunday’s visitors, meanwhile, were beaten 3-1 by Real Bedford on the opening day, and Tom Davies’ side will be looking for a response this weekend.
But the Cherries had the upper hand over their opponents last season, as they claimed the league double with victories at home and away.
A 2-0 win came at the Ringwood Community Hub thanks to goals from Gemma McGuinness and Georgia Wilson, before a thumping 6-0 victory away from home.
(Image: Ian Middlebrook)
Former Robiness Clarabella Hall will line up against her former teammates in Cherries colours this weekend, as Bournemouth look to make a winning start at home this season.
Cheltenham finished eighth in the National League Southern Premier Division last term, two points clear of the relegation zone, after a thumping victory over bottom club Billericay Town on the final day pulled them clear of the drop.
Hall scored a hat-trick in that game, and her former side will be hoping she won’t replicate that performance against them in Weymouth.
Helen Bleazard’s squad is in a good place injury-wise, but they lost Sophia Leonard to injury last Sunday at Wimbledon as she was forced off.
(Image: Ian Middlebrook)
Kyra Robertson, Tilly Wilkes, Tia Young and Emilia Newton were all missing from the matchday squad last weekend.
Boss Bleazard said there wasn’t yet any steer on how long Leonard would be sidelined as they continue to assess her knock.
“With her we're just taking it day by day and getting the right bits in place with our medical team,” she said.
“So I let them lead on that rather than, rather than me getting involved. Whatever she's done and whatever time she needs, we'll make sure that when she comes back, she's ready.”
AFC Bournemouth host Cheltenham Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium in Weymouth on Sunday, August 23, with kick-off at 2pm.