(Image: Richard Crease)
(Image: Richard Crease)
THE Cherries host Fulham this weekend in another huge clash at the top end of the table.
Both sides are pushing for promotion to WSL2 this season, with Fulham coming off the back of consecutive invincible league titles and Bournemouth finishing one place below the promotion play-offs last season.
The visitors currently sit third in the Southern Premier Division on 12 points, while the Cherries are just one point ahead in second place.
However, Fulham have a game in hand, having played just five matches.
It has been an overwhelmingly positive start to the season for Steve Jaye's side: he won the National League Premier Division Manager of the Month award for August.
Fulham FC Women won their opening four fixtures in their first season in the third tier of women's football, scoring 12 and conceding just two.
Jaye took charge of the first team back in 2018, but has overseen back-to-back promotions in the past two seasons.
The Cottagers went unbeaten in the London and South East Regional League in 2024/25 and repeated the feat in the National League Division One South East last season.
However, both sides come into this game after suffering their respective first defeats of the campaign last weekend.
It was a tough match for Helen Bleazard's side, who lost 1-0 at home to top-of-the-table Oxford United.
Despite Oxford's Nicola Gibson receiving a second yellow card and an early bath at the end of the first half, the Cherries failed to threaten Beth Wookey's net, and Kate Wiseman's 12th-minute opener was enough to win the match.
Meanwhile, Fulham went into their fixture against Exeter City on a 51-game unbeaten streak.
The Cottagers were 2-0 down by half-time and, despite their best efforts, a 60th-minute goal was all they could muster, ending their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 defeat.
This meant that Oxford's lead at the top of the table was extended to five points, though Fulham do have a game in hand on both the U's and Bournemouth.
The result of this match could have serious implications for the promotion race, with second place a promotion play-off spot.
AFC Bournemouth host Fulham on Sunday, October 11, at the Bob Lucas Stadium, with kick-off at 2pm.