pre-match review: AFC Bournemouth vs maidenhead uniteD
10th Jan 2025 | By Euan Thomas
AFC Bournemouth Women take on Maidenhead United at York Road on Sunday, with the Cherries looking to maintain their winning form into the new year.
CAN BOURNEMOUTH RETURN TO TOP FORM?
This game comes after the previous match against Moneyfields FC was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Steve Cuss told afcb.co.uk
“We were disappointed last week’s game was called off, but it has given us another week’s worth of training.
“It’s been near enough a month since our last game now and we want to get back playing and see if we can get back to the form we showed in the first half of the season.”
After nine games, Steve Cuss’ side find themselves unbeaten in the league with an impressive 100% record.
Last time out, AFC Bournemouth fell to a 1-0 defeat in the Women’s FA Cup against Ipswich Town, this being only their second loss in all competitions this season.
Being a league below the East Anglian outfit, a 1-0 defeat cannot be taken as a damaging blow to the team.
Despite the disappointment, Steve Cuss’ and his players will be fully focused on gaining the promotion that they came so close to achieving last season.
In the last 4 games, the Cherries have scored 27 goals and conceded zero. This run of games included a convincing 4-0 victory against title-rivals Swindon at the Vitality Stadium.
Sunday’s opponents have lost their last two games, conceding six goals. Their last win came against Keynsham Town in November, in which they claimed a 5-0 thrashing.
The last game between these two sides ended in a 9-0 win for AFC Bournemouth at the Ringwood Community Hub.
Cuss will be hoping for similar fortunes on Sunday afternoon.
Is the promotion dream on?
Given the fact that AFC Bournemouth Women have won all nine of their league games so far and also came within three points of promotion last season, it wouldn’t be outlandish to say that promotion is truly on the cards.
Having scored 49 goals and only conceding two, along with being a point behind leaders Swindon Town with five games in hand, the Cherries are huge favourites for a fantastic title winning season.
The league title would grant promotion to the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, the third division in women’s football, for the first time in their history.
With the form that the likes of Erin Bloomfield and Jenna Markham are in this season, AFC Bournemouth are scoring plenty of goals.
Captain, Abby Jones, has marshalled the defence and helped continue the impressive defensive record.
Katie James and Molly-Barron Clark have also contributed well to the goliath number of goals scored.
With this brilliant 100% record so far and the incredible goal differential, the Cherries look set for a historic and successful season if they can continue the consistency of top quality goalscoring and solid defensive performances.
2025 could be a massive year for all involved in the team.
AFC Bournemouth Women’s Captain - Abby Jones
