E.T. at Newquay spells heartache for Elliott.

AFC Bournemouth Ladies travelled to Newquay for the first round of the South West Combination League Cup and were considered as serious underdogs bearing in mind each team’s respective league position.

However, this was a resilient Bournemouth team packed with talent and lots of running and with a new found belief since the return to form of Lindsey Roe and the arrival of new signing Lisa Langrish from Premier League outfit Bristol Academy.

Kerry Isom started her second match for the Cherries but there was no place in the starting line up for the injured Georgie Hoban who has been suffering with a recurring ankle problem since the start of the season.  She was replaced by the ever-improving Aimee Barnes who slotted in at left back.

It was Newquay who took the initiative and with the first corner of the game they put Isom under severe pressure but she dealt with the situation strongly by smashing the ball away from under the bar and that was the only real time the surfers troubled the away team during the first half hour.

Bournemouth also had their opportunities when Langrish arrived at pace to meet a near post corner only to see her header sail over the bar and her brilliant overhead kick which was saved by the fortunate Emma Robinson in the Newquay goal – still the Cherries looked for that elusive opener against the surfers but it didn’t happen in the first half.

The deadlock was broken on 35 minutes when a free kick caused confusion at the heart of the Cherries defence allowing the prolific Dawna Dennet to open the scoring with a superb header from 12 yards out and although it was against the run of play it was an indication that Newquay were not about to give up.

Half time Newquay 1-0 AFC Bournemouth Ladies

This time it was Bournemouth who began brightly and the pattern of the second half was set when Roe was fouled just 5 yards from the area and the effective Langrish stepped up to take the free kick.  Her effort had Robinson in all sorts of trouble but she just managed to tip the ball around for a corner which led to a great opportunity for Roe but her off balance shot flew just over the bar.

With Fisher and Prince working hard in midfield, the Cherries pressed through Langrish, Roe, Foster and Goater and it was at the end of a fine individual run by Lisa Langrish that Bournemouth notched their well deserved equaliser through the calm finish of Kirsty Foster.  She timed her arrival so well to be able to

calmly, pass the ball into the bottom left hand corner to give the Cherries hope.

Newquay threatened on the counter attack but the industrious attitude of Banton, Heydon, Elliott and Barnes left the Cornish side frustrated and limited to just a few opportunities.

Still Bournemouth went in search of a winner and when Prince’s free kick landed on a sixpence for Langrish it looked all over for Newquay but her header went just wide of the upright.

In the 75^th minute, Foster was replaced by Neill in order to try and get the win in normal time with fresh legs in attack and she almost did it with a good volley from the right side of the box but Robinson was equal to the strike.

Final Score 1-1.

Into extra time. . . .

With very few scoring opportunities in the first period it was a cruel blow right at the start of the second that ended the Cherries cup run. An indecisive clearance fell kindly for Katy Barker and she smashed the ball past the helpless Isom to send the home supporters wild.

Lanahan and Rowswell replaced the tired Goater and Banton enabling Bournemouth to continue to attack and with very little time left on the clock their

last effort was a volley by Fisher from 20 yards out but it didn’t trouble Robinson at all and the Cherries last chance had gone.

Final Score: Newquay 2-1 AFC Bournemouth Ladies (AET)