Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth Women demonstrated their prowess on the field with a resounding 11-0 victory against Millbrook in the FA Cup. The third-tier team traveled to face their seventh-tier opponents with the aim of avoiding a cup upset, and they achieved this with a professional display. The match saw four players, Emilia Newton, Jessica Hennessy, Georgia Wilson, and Kenni Thompson, each scoring twice. Additional goals from Gemma McGuinness, Sophie Quirk, and Jenna Markham further solidified their dominance. This victory has secured their place in the next round, with the draw set to be broadcast on the TNT Sports YouTube channel at 7 pm.
Helen Bleazard said: “I said to the girls before the game I wanted us to be really professional in our performance. Whether we’re playing against tier one or tier seven opposition, I drill into them constantly about standards. I said to them at the end I was really happy with the fact they kept the standards and professionalism all the way through, from the first half to the 90 minutes. I was really happy with it.”
The match also provided an opportunity for manager Helen Bleazard to give valuable playing time to some of her squad members, including Phoebe Williams, who made her return after a shoulder injury. Williams played 45 minutes, marking her first significant appearance since the opening day. Bleazard expressed satisfaction with the squad’s overall performance and highlighted the contributions of players like Evie Murphy and Emilia Newton, who not only scored but also assisted in goals.
Helen Bleazard said: “It was ironically the first time this season we were able to name a full bench. Quite a few players who were on managed minutes got the minutes they needed. It was great to get Phoebe back. She had only played eight minutes this season before today, due to the injury she had. It was a real squad day today. Both Evie (Murphy) and Emilia did really well and grew within the game as it went on. I was really happy for not only Emilia getting her two goals but Evie getting the assist for her second. They both put in a great shift.”
Looking ahead, AFC Bournemouth Women are set to host Oxford United in the National League Southern Premier Division. The Cherries aim to maintain their unbeaten start in the league as they play under the lights at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night. This upcoming fixture presents another opportunity for the team to showcase their consistency and skill as they continue their campaign.
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