Looking for a return to form after a recent stutter, Rebels Supremo Jesus Cordon made just the one change to the side that suffered such a cruel and controversial defeat at Abingdon United last week. Izzy Franklin literally swapped places with newest recruit Mia South to resume her role at the heart of the back four.
After the customary guard of honour to mark the Cherries’ achievement, the visitors quickly went about extending their 100% record and showing a sun-drenched Woodside Road exactly why no one has taken even a point off them all term. Less than a minute had passed when Kelci Bowers’ lofted ball into the box dropped agonisingly out of the reach of the returning Franklin but Lauren Dolbear in the home goal wasn’t unduly troubled by Jenna Markham’s shot.
Moments later a similar delivery, this time by Captain Amber Treweek, resulted in the pacy Gemma McGuinness outstripping Holly Talbut-Smith, only for her to drive an angled attempt over the top.
A mere eleven were showing on the clock at the point the deadlock was finally broken. Dolbear’s brilliance at keeping out Markham going unrewarded thanks to Eloise Hall burying the rebound.
Lady Luck was really smiling down on the guests, courtesy of Bowers’ benefiting from the inside of the post which aided her guided effort, after Ellie Strippel’s corner caused problems, less than two minutes further into proceedings.
However, far from the floodgates opening, Eleanor Keegan’s quick thinking at a throw-in saw her launch the ball towards Humphrey, with the number nine robbing a Bournemouth defender on the byline before cutting in and halving the deficit via a calm finish.
Feathers duly ruffled, the Champions hit back through Strippel’s superb first touch and lay-off to Alisha Buckingham ending a fraction the wrong side of the upright.
Unfortunately though, the respite was all too brief.
Bowers picked out the menacing Alisha Buckingham towards the back stick for the forward to drill low across Dolbear and net a third, reestablishing a two-goal cushion for the division’s top scorers.
A promising break by McGuinness nearly produced a fourth but this time the former Northern Ireland International was marginally off target.
Refusing to lay down, Worthing Skipper Dan Rowe sent in one of her trademark corners that was met by Keegan’s cushioned header lifting itself a tad too high, as the defender connected at the back stick.
The aforementioned Keegan then demonstrated her versatility and fitness by immediately resuming her defensive duties, bravely blocking Strippel’s blast when she tried to convert Buckingham’s fizzed in flag-kick.
Despite all that, a wonderful flowing team move was rounded off by Tottenham Hotspur loanee Hall making no mistake to apply the coup de grace to Buckingham’s next low centre, two minutes before the break.
Enjoying the comfort of a 4-1 lead at half-time, the Dorset-based travellers brought on Helen Bleazard and Kenni Thompson at the start of the second period.
Although the former won’t want to be reminded of her early introduction, thanks to a slip seeing the ball go under her foot to leave the lurking Humphrey with the freedom of the St Elmo’s end. Her pursuit of ‘Soph’ ultimately proved to be fruitless as the striker got away from her and maintained her composure to clinically dispatch past Erin Foley.
Typically, Bournemouth put the cherry on top almost instantly.
Dolbear came to the edge of her penalty area to intercept Bowers’ long ball forward but ended up being stranded. Hall more than happy to capitalise and nod over the onrushing ‘keeper to complete a hat-trick just shy of the hour mark.
A tad the other side of it, interval inductee Thompson fired in from the left, eventually leading to Phoebe Williams and matchball claimant Hall combining to near devastating effect. ‘Loz’ in the home net ensured they didn’t by denying the latter.
Hall then couldn’t quite contort and keep her header down, prior to Rowe carving out further opportunities at the other end that saw Dani Lane have her shot blocked by a white shirt and Tierney Scott send her follow-up over the bar.
More outstanding work from Dolbear further frustrated the visitors, while an unmarked Buckingham could only clear the crossbar once Thompson’s partially cleared flag-kick had landed kindly at her feet, just outside the eighteen yard box.
Bermudan international Thompson soon bent a beauty into the path of Williams; the one-time Southampton midfielder reaching the byline before spotting the run of hat-trick hero Hall.
The potential danger snuffed out and Dolbear pouncing on the loose ball to draw a line under that particular episode.
The very last minute of the match procured one last chance for the Cherries, although Dolbear was out smartly to snatch the ball away from the potential grasp of substitute and twenty-one goal centre-forward Erin Bloomfield.
