Pompey Women better Cherries to claim Hampshire FA Senior Cup

Pompey Women’s last outing in the competition was a 2-1 victory against Moneyfields Ladies in the semi-final. Bournemouth, despite having lost their semi-final to Southampton Women 3-0, line up against the Blues in contention for the trophy after Saints’ withdrawal from the competition due to fixture congestion.

The match started evenly with both teams threatening spells of possession in the opposition half. Pompey’s game plan of feeding the ball through to Cherelle Khassal and Emma Jones intimidated the Cherries defence throughout the opening spells of the game.

Bournemouth on the other hand favouring the right flank as a path up the pitch by utilising 17 year-old Lucy Cooper, who had already netted 11 goals in 13 games for the Cherries this season.

It was however the team from PO4 who opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Emma Jones intercepted the ball in midfield and fed a through ball into Cherelle Khassal, who squared it into the danger area. Tamsin De Bunsen slipped the ball into the net underneath Cherrie’s keeper Sam Chrippes.

Pompey rose to dominate the remainder of the first half with numerous attempts on goal. Emma Jones threatened two more shots calling Chrippes into action between the sticks. Lucy Cooper also came through on goal but ended up skying her effort over the bar. Defender Jazmin Younger also asked questions of the Cherries defence when she rose tallest from a corner delivery. Her effort however sailed over the bar, thus keeping the half-time score to 1-0.

Portsmouth began the second half with as much enthusiasm as they had finished the first. Cherelle Khassal and Shannon Albuery continued to ask questions of the Bournemouth defence, with the former taking the ball past the keeper and almost doubling the score with an audacious chip attempt.

Finally, in the 74th minute, Emma Jones received the ball on the edge of the area and took a first time shot with favoured her left foot, beating the goalkeeper and doubling the score.

Rosie McDonnell put aside any doubt when her left-footed shot from inside the box soared over the keeper and into the net giving Pompey a three-goal cushion with 5 minutes to go.

Our Player Of The Match is Jazmin Younger.

Full time score:

Portsmouth Women 3 – 0 Bournemouth Women