Sports Suffer From Kayjà Vu

The teams line up

This Sunday I had made my mind up to head to one of the furthest points (for me anyway) in the Southern Region League, Bournemouth Sports. It was a calculated risk to make a 210 mile, 4 hour, round trip, but a check of the forecast for Bournemouth showed that the rain currently falling in Bicester was not going to spread South. As it turned out, the game was played mostly in bright sun and above average temperature.
The match in question was the Division One South tussle between current leaders Bournemouth Sports Reserves and mid-table AFC Varsity. Sports had gone top after last week's 8-0 victory at Nursling & Shirley, but had played more games than those around them. Varsity won their opening league game 3-0 against Shaftesbury but had then lost by the same score to Stoneham in their second outing. Last season this fixture ended 1-0 to Varsity thanks to an early Kayleigh Mackay goal. The same player also scored Varsity's goal in the 1-1 home draw, after Abi Lander had given Sports the lead.

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Sports look for an opening

​After being concerned about possible rain, the worst problem the spectators had as we approached kick-off was the bright sunshine shining directly into our eyes.
The visitors appeared to settle into the game earlier than their hosts, but weren't able to mount any serious attacks and, as the half progressed, Sports played their way back into the game and began to edge it in terms of possession. However, neither side managed to seriously test their opposing goalkeeper.
Kay Mackay mustered the first attempt on target in the 20th minute, receiving the ball on the right-hand edge of the area but firing directly at Maya Newsham, who handled the shot comfortably.
Both teams continued to probe for openings, but the defences were in charge at this point, neither giving the strikers many glimpses of the goal. With ten minutes to go until the break, Bournemouth were awarded a free-kick some 30 yards out in a fairly central position. Olivia Palmer took aim and hit the target but it was too far out to give Jade Collins too many problems. A few minutes later Sports earned another free-kick, some 5 yards closer and slightly to the left. Palmer took aim once again, sending the shot low towards the left-hand post. Collins had to dive to her left to make the save, allowing the ball to squirm loose but recovering quickly to fall on it before any strikers could follow in.
A minute before half-time Varsity came as close as anyone to opening the scoring when Newsham spilled Jess Nunn's effort. Mackay was quick to react but so was Newsham and, with both players throwing themselves bravely into the challenge, the ball span wide of the mark.

HT Bournemouth Sports Reserves 0 AFC Varsity 0. A fairly evenly matched half of football. After a slow start, Bournemouth probably held an advantage in  terms of possession, but Varsity generated the better opportunities.

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Varsity attacking

​A slight alteration in formation saw Varsity switch top-scorer Kay Mackay into a more central role for the second-half. Within a minute of the restart the change paid off. A glorious through ball from Jess Nunn  found Eloise Payne. Her progress was slowed by a defender but she managed to slip the ball inside for Mackay who calmly rolled the ball under Newsham. 0-1

Whilst Bournemouth looked to get back on level terms, it was the visitors who generated the next big chance when substitute Gurender Rayat was sent clear, one on one with Maya Newsham. This time the Sports stopper came out on top, blocking the attempt well to keep her team in it.
The game was halted in the 72nd minute when Carmen Perry went down with a head injury. At first it looked as if she had been caught by the ball, but it soon became apparent that it was a little more than that. However, after a fairly lengthy delay, and some bandaging applied by Varsity's own player-doctor Armiee Akpobire, Perry was able to get back on her feet and leave the field under her own steam, thankfully.
Heading into the last few minutes, Sports continued to push forward, looking for the elusive equaliser. Tilly Pitcher as given a clear view of goal but, from twenty yards, she struck her shot well over. Then, in the final minute of normal time, Varsity had something of a lucky escape. Olivia Palmer's low drive was well-struck but straight at Collins. The goalkeeper elected to go with her feet to make the stop only for the ball to ricochet off her and run just wide of the post. From the ensuing corner Emma Eden met the ball on the volley, only to see her effort also flash wide of the post.

HT Bournemouth Sports Reserves 0 AFC Varsity 1. As the score suggests, there wasn't too much between the teams throughout the 90 minutes. Clear cut chances were few and far between but Kay Mackay took her chance and sent Varsity home with the points, an exact repeat of lats season's result. The defeat sees Sports lose top spot to AFC Stoneham, but they remain in second. Varsity move up a place to sixth, just a point behind Bournemouth in a congested mid-table.
Next weekend Sports make the trip along the coast to take on fourth placed Havant & Waterlooville. Last season The Hawks edged this one by the odd goal in nine. A game that saw Havant's, now departed striker, Sophie Lee score a hat-trick and Bournemouth's Isobel Weatherly see red.
Varsity are also on the road as the visit The Hive, home of bottom side Nursling & Shirley. Last season Varsity snuck a 1-0 victory in this game thanks to a 63rd minute Jennifer Parr strike.

Bournemouth Sports Reserves: 1.Newsham, 16.Charlton, 4.Smallwood(c), 12.Eden, 14.Vass, 13. De Angelis, 5.Hiles, 6.Hughes, 25.Palmer, 22.Pitcher, 3.Lewis. Subs: 7.Beedles, 2.Russell, 15.Vakatawa
AFC Varsity: 1.Collins(c), 17.Sims, 23.Bailey, 22.Goff, 5.Perry, 27.Akpobire, 21.Ebert, 11.Payne, 4.Bray-Spencer, 16.Nunn, 6.Mackay. Subs: Pollard, 15.Rayat, 19.Priest, 20.Renoufcole, 13.Jones

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Chapel Gate

The Ground
Bournemouth Sports are based at Chapel Gate, a multi-sport complex that is managed by Bournemouth University. Situated just a few hundred yards from Bournemouth Airport, the hub is the home to Bournemouth Rugby Club, Bournemouth Squash Club and, of course, Bournemouth Sports Football Club. The approach road takes you past a karting track before opening out into a large car park adjacent to the main clubhouse, bar and cafe. Just past this is the entrance to the rugby club and, if you take a right, a further access road that leads to the football club. There are more parking spaces along this road and next to the main pitch. There are multiple full size pitches but the main one id the pitch closest to the access road. The club has a separate building for changing rooms set back in the woodland behind the pitches. There are dugouts straddling the halfway line and, next to these, a small roofless, seating stand. There are also metal structures along this side of the pitch that look like the could be covered to provide spectator shelter. However they don't currently have any roofing. The playing surface looks to be pretty much flat, with no discernable slope.
The whole complex has a really buzz about it. The main car park was almost full when I got there and all of the various pitches, grass and artificial, were occupied. I counted six different sports being played, football, rugby, hockey, netball, lacrosse and even some American footballers. A brilliant community sports hub.


Ground Number: 462
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

Olivia Palmer let's fly