14-02-2025
Cherries host Bursledon to begin cup defence as Sports host Bristol Rovers
THE Cherries begin their Hampshire Senior Cup defence at home against Bursledon FC at the Ringwood Community Hub.
AFC Bournemouth were due to start their cup campaign away at Southampton FC Women in December, but the Cherries' opponents withdrew from the competition.
Steve Cuss's side will be aiming to win the trophy for the third consecutive season.
They beat Southampton FC's U21s to take their third title in a row in May 2023, after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park, with Kelly Fripp netting for Bournemouth.
The Cherries come into the game on fine form, extending their winning run in the National League to 13 games with a comfortable 7-0 win over neighbours Bournemouth Sports. They went past 100 goals in the season to date in that win, and Erin Foley kept her tenth clean sheet in a row in the league, meaning she has not conceded a goal in the National League for more than 16 hours.
The visitors to the Ringwood Community Hub on Sunday play in the Southern Region Division One South and they sit in seventh in the league.
Bursledon beat QK Southampton in the last round of the cup to reach this stage against the Cherries.
Sports, meanwhile, will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat to the Cherries at home against Bristol Rovers in the National League.
Ninth-placed Sports will be aiming at extending their gap to the relegation zone, which currently stands at two points at Fawcetts Field Sports Ground in New Milton.
Both games kick off at 2pm on Sunday, February 16.
