It’s been a busy Summer both on and off the pitch for our Women’s team, with Jesus Cordon and Gareth Stobart new in the dugout alongside several new signings; four of which made their full competitive debuts. Namely, Libby Kingshott in goal, Holly Talbut-Smith and Izzy Franklin at the back and Danni Lane at number ten. Amelia Davies was the single newbie on the bench, as injuries and unavailability left the Rebels only able to name two replacements.

A nervous opening by the visitors saw the hosts take early advantage of having a strong wind behind them in the first-half. Indeed, it took just five minutes for Kelci Bowers to make headway down the right wing and pick out Gemma McGuinness, who couldn’t quite get enough purchase on her header.

The bobbly pitch then caught out Becs Bell, when her pass failed to find it’s intended target to leave McGuinness with a clear shot but Kingshott was equal to it.

Although, it looked like the Reds (in blue) had weathered that particular storm when debutant Lane met Captain Dan Rowe’s corner on the run, only for her to glance fractionally wide.

However, the forecast changed dramatically thanks to Bournemouth breaking immediately, eventually resulting in Jenna Markham rounding Kingshott to tap into an empty net.

For a moment or two soon after, it appeared that a bit of penalty box pinball had presented McGuiness with a quickfire second, before the nearside assistant silenced the celebrations by way of an offside call.

Rebels grew into the game and finally got their reward approaching the twenty minute mark.

Rowe’s expert ball over the top of a flat Bournemouth back four breaking the offside trap on this occasion, although the returning (permanently) Tierney Scott still had a fair amount to do if she was going to threaten the home goal. Do it she did though, bursting down the left-hand side, pursued by her marker but shaking her off and demonstrating composure under pressure to slot a low, driven effort agonisingly out of the desperate reach of Cherries’ netminder Erin Foley; even using the inside of the far post to add a touch of gloss to a fine finish.

The wind and uneven surface then became a bit of a problem for both teams up until a lengthy period of stoppage time, when a brilliant piece of individual skill, courtesy of substitute Lucy Cooper forced Kingshott out sharply to smother.
Two minutes further on, Ellie Strippel channelled her inner Lindsey Vonn by slaloming a path through three Worthing challenges. Rowe proving to be the immovable object that stopped the midfielder, illegally. Alisha Buckingham calmly sending Kngshott the wrong way from the spot.

Buoyed by this unexpected turn of events, Cooper and Alison Hall tested the resolve of young custodian Kingshott in the space of sixty seconds. Firstly, sharp reflexes proved vital in the guest’s number one keeping out the Ringwood Town-based homesters. Followed shortly afterwards by ‘Kingy’ claiming Hall’s goalbound nod, ably assisted by Bowers’ brilliance.

It might have been life in the fast lane going into the break, only for Danni to pull her attempt the wrong side of the mark.

A change of ends meant a change of direction, with Worthing now enjoying playing with the wind behind them.

Although they very nearly had it instantly taken out of their sails, via the ever-dangerous Cooper, in the opening stages of the second-half. More great work in the form of a terrific touch and turn by the troublesome teeneger ended in Jenna Markham making hers as she struck the upright.

The woodwork (crossbar) then came to the rescue of a side that suffered the agony of missing out on promotion last season by a single point.

Lane setting the pace once again; getting on the end of an excellent build-up engineered through Talbut-Smith helping on Emily Linscer’s potential assist.

All that taking place after Kingshott’s presence had been required to put paid to the thought of Markham making it three.

Tremendous defending had Linscer, then Talbut-Smith combining to thwart the same player, one after the other and Kingshott ensured ‘thou shalt not pass’ either when she too frustrated Markham; Maisy Smith pulling back from the byline to set up the opportunity.

Red’s top stopper ultimately left her best for last, producing a superb two-handed tip over the top with Bowers, blasting a rocket, from a tight angle, becoming the latest to suffer frustration at the gloves of Libby.