David beats Goliath as Bournemouth Women overcome top of the table Exeter City

Bournemouth have moved to two points behind top of the league Exeter after beating them 2-1 at home. The game also saw Pearl Mortimer score her first goal for the Cherries.

The Bournemouth team celebrate a deserved victory at full time | Photo by: Zach Sampson

Bournemouth have a huge let off midway through the first half as the ball bobbled across the box and Exeter’s Sarah Stacey skied the ball over the bar letting the Cherries off.

Five minutes later, Bournemouth had a brilliant opportunity as Molly Gladwell almost curled the ball into the back of the net directly from a corner however, the Exeter keeper Abbi Bond was able to tip it over.

The first half ended in a stalemate however, Bournemouth would have gone into the break feeling happier with their performance, going toe to toe with top of the league who had only lost once all season.

Just three minutes into the second half, Katie Scadding makes a wonder save as a corner is swung in and the keeper saves a volley from point blank range to keep the score line level.

Kelly Fripp heading the ball away | Photo by: Zach Sampson

The first goal of the game came in the 50th minute when Katie James picked up the ball in the centre circle from a drop ball and lofted it over to Pearl Mortimer; she continued her fine goalscoring form as took it round the Exeter keeper and tapped the ball into an empty net making it 1-0.

Exeter responded quickly when seven minutes later when captain Manfy Sharpe took a speculative shot from 25 yards that ricocheted around the box, eventually falling to the striker volleyed into the back of the net from short distance, making it 1-1.

There was pure elation for the Bournemouth supporters as in the 89th minute substitute Beth Everson picked up the ball on the halfway line, ran towards the Exeter goal turning the defenders inside and out; she played Molly Gladwell through in on goal who calmly slotted it past the keeper to secure the win and her first goal for the Cherries.

Molly Gladwell's first goal for Bournemouth | Photos by: Zach Sampson

After the game, manager Steve Cuss was very happy performance saying: “I thought it was our performance of the season if I’m being honest. I thought we were really strong defensively which gave us a really solid base to attack; today we found that clinical edge in the final third and I thought we deserved the win”.

He went on to heap praise on substitute Beth Everson saying: “I thought she was really unlucky to be left out; she’s been absolutely fantastic for us since she joined.

“I wanted to change the shape a little bit today and go with a slightly different formation and it just didn’t suit Beth to start today. With the pace she has, she can have a real impact. I thought the composure she showed to slip Molly in for the finish was fantastic and exactly what you want your subs to do!”

Bournemouth travel to Moneyfields next weekend who are just one place below them in the league.