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AFC BOURNEMOUTH made it two wins from two games in the National League as they picked up three points in their first competitive match at their new home, the Bob Lucas Stadium, with a 2-1 victory over Cheltenham Town.
It was a day for new, as teenage signings Issy Watts and Tia Young completed the win in the Cherries first game at the stadium of Weymouth FC.
They now sit third in the Southern Premier Division after victories over Wimbledon and the Robinesses, only Oxford United and Fulham are above them with a superior goal difference.
Helen Bleazard’s side were held to a 0-0 draw at the break, despite a plethora of chances.
Clarabella Hall’s shot from the centre of the box was off-target, Issy Bryant similarly had a chance with too much on it, and goalscorer-to-be Watts saw her free header sail over the bar from close range,
(Image: AFC Bournemouth)
However, it would not take long for the former Southampton player to net her first in red-and-black. Within ten minutes of the second-half kicking off, Katie James found Watts just outside of the left-side of the box. The 19-year-old set herself up for a beautiful curled effort into the far corner and wheeled off in joy.
Cheltenham continued to face attacks, Jenna Markham coming close on the counter and Watts nearly finding a second, denied by a great block. Bournemouth were well in the driving seat.
A rare chance for the visitors saw them equaliser as a corner fail to be cleared, and the ball dropped perfectly for Emily Owen to convert from eight yards with 20 minutes remaining. Her side-footed effort snuck through the crowd of bodies and found the bottom-left corner, Katie Scadding helpless.
Just four minutes from time though, it was a similar story at the other end of the pitch. James swung in a corner at the near-post, which the Robinesses could only clear to the edge of the six-yard box. Young, who signed from Portsmouth this summer, was quick enough to get her shot off and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
This victory followed a 1-0 win away at AFC Wimbledon, leaving the Cherries with a perfect start to the campaign, as they aim to secure the promotion they narrowly missed out on last season.