AFC Bournemouth are a great advertisement for women's football as they win at the Vitality Stadium

AFC Bournemouth Women took on Chesham in the first ever competitive game at the Vitality Stadium. Before kick off, Steve Cuss' black and red army were five points behind league leaders Cheltenham Town with a game in hand so a win was vital for their dreams of promotion to stay alive.

The Bournemouth team huddling before kick-off

02: Bournemouth have been enjoying the large amount of possession that resulted in a corner being headed just over the bar by Becki Bath

05: Jade Bradley goes down after a sliding 50/50 challenge. However, she did not come off.

08: A Kat Bowers shot catches Sam Chrippes by surprise and is forced into making a save with her chest.

14: Becki Bath is played through in on goal by a Jade Bradley through-ball, who rounds the keeper and taps it home into an empty net. 1-0

Becki Bath's first goal in pictures

15: Chesham hit Bournemouth with a quick reply as Gemma Fraser picks the ball up on the edge of the box, cuts in on her right foot and expertly fires into the top corner to make it 1-1.

19: Becki Bath picks up the ball on the edge on the box and slots it into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1. The Chesham manager is furious at the linesman as he thought she was offside.

22: Katie James sends Lucy Cooper through in on goal however, she is off balance as she shoots, and it flies just past the post.

35: Katie James lofts the ball from just past the half way line straight into the path of Becki Bath, who’s right-footed volley sneaks in under Amber Taylor at the near post to complete her hattrick. 3-1.

Becki Bath's hat trick goal

41: Betty Barron plays the ball to Katie James, who is in acres of space on the right-hand side, who runs down the line and plays it across the box to Abby Jones at the back post who is unable to steer it goal wards.

43: Chesham’s Emma Delves floats a free kick towards the back post, which is then headed across goal and the resulting shot is expertly saved by Sam Chrippes.

45: Gemma Fraser is played in one-on-one and rounds Chrippes however the keeper is able to make a remarkable recovery save.

Half time: 3-1.

54: Jade Bradley is replaced by Elle Elkins

58: Lucy Cooper is played through in on goal however she stumbles and loses her balance as she takes the ball past the keeper and is unable to convert.

62: Katie James picks up the ball on the left wing and dribbles towards the goal, cooly slotting it into the bottom corner to make it 4-1.

66: Chesham make two substitutions as goalkeeper Amber Taylor is replaced by Lucia Delves and Becky Bloor is replaced by Hana Hetherington.

74: Bournemouth substitute Katie Kingshott for Hannah Francis

80: Another Bournemouth substitution as goal scorer Katie James is replaced by Helen Corbin

82: Katelyn Wort comes on for Emma Davis

84: Goalkeeper Katie Scadding comes on for Sam Chrippes

86: A Chesham freekick is excellently saved by Scadding who then produces another brilliant reaction save to keep the sore 4-1.

90: Becky Bath receives a yellow card for throwing herself at the Chesham attacker to stop a counterattack

90: Abby jones dances her way through the Chesham defence but her left footed attempt flies just past of the post.

Abby Jones' close call in pictures

A brilliant first half hattrick and an all-round brilliant performance from striker Becki Bath saw her receive the award for player of the match.

Bournemouth now move two points off Cheltenham Town with just one game left to play this season. Next weekend, the league leaders take on today’s opponent whilst The Cherries travel to Exeter with the dreams of promotion firmly in their minds.