AFC Bournemouth Women were beaten 2-1 by Real Bedford this afternoon, making it unlikely they will end the season in the playoff spot.
5000 fans filled into Vitality Stadium to watch the Cherries’ final home game of the season but Bedford, who started the day in seventh, executed their gameplan perfectly to pull off an upset.
Helen Bleazard’s side came into the game off the back of a strong 5-1 win over AFC Wimbledon last Sunday.
Chasing the playoff spot that could see them step up to the WSL, the Cherries needed a win this afternoon to catch Plymouth Argyle who currently sit second, although have played one game more than Bournemouth.
The Cherries came out firing and built themselves several early chances, the best of which was from Sophie Quirk who breezed past her defender and curled an effort which was just high of the crossbar.
Kelci Bowers had a great chance when she scrambled to tap in a rebound from Kenni Thompson’s attempt, but the chance was cleared off the line.
It was Real Bedford who took the lead 34 minutes in, when Lucy Wood found the end of a cross which had found it’s way across the Cherries box and smashed it past Katie Scadding.
It only took the Cherries four minutes to find an equaliser however. Wave after wave of Bournemouth attacks were defended by Bedford until captain Katie James powered her shot past Erica Meale to get the Cherries right back into the game.
With the game level as the teams headed in for the break, Bleazard’s side needed a big second half to continue their playoff push.
It only took two minutes for the visitors to retake the lead after returning from the break. Melis Mehmet was in the right place at the right time and gave Bedford their second lead of the match with a poachers finish after Scadding saved the initial shot.
With half an hour left in the game and needing at least two goals to win, Helen Bleazard made a double change, bringing on Amber Treweek and Zoe Barratt.
Bowers had a great chance to equalise for the Cherries as she tried to meet a cross at the back post but just couldn’t get there in time.
Bleazard made another two changes to try and get the Cherries back into the game with just over ten minutes to go, bringing on both Ellie Strippel and Pheobe Williams.
The Cherries kept pushing for a goal but Bedford stood strong to defend their lead. Bleazard made her final substitution of the match, bringing on Gemma McGuinness for the final ten minutes.
Bournemouth hunted for the much needed goal deep into the five added minutes, but resilient defending from the visitors shut them out.
With the 2-1 defeat, Bleazard’s side would have to hope Plymouth Argyle lose their final match of the season, against Real Bedford, and the Cherries would have to win both their remaining games convincingly to be in with a shot of the play off spot.