Beattie's quick off the mark as Pompey Women beat Bournemouth

Kerry Beattie’s early finish was enough for Pompey Women to beat Bournemouth and leapfrog their opponents in the National League standings.

The forward struck in the very first minute at the Bob Lucas Stadium in Weymouth, with both sides going on to hit the crossbar twice.

There were other opportunities for the Blues to increase their lead, although they had to survive a late Cherries rally before being able to celebrate another win.

Jay Sadler made five changes from the side that beat Cheltenham at Fratton Park to progress in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Arabella Suttie, Katie Wilson, Georgie Freeland, Jemima Dahou and Reanna Blades were all handed starts, with Annie Wilding, Izzy Collins, Summer Hughes, Freya Jones and Esta Roberts making way.

The visitors got off to the perfect start, stunning their opponents by taking the lead with just 30 seconds on the clock.

A Blades delivery into the box was cleared only as far as Freeland, and although she scuffed her shot, the ball flew straight for Beattie to fire home.

And the Blues were not content to sit on that lead, with a long-range Amelia Hazard effort having to be punched clear by Katie Scadding.

Bournemouth then failed to deal with a free-kick and Suttie tried to force the ball into the net from a few yards out, only to be blocked by Freya Meadows-Tuson on the line.

The hosts started to settle as the first half progressed and enjoyed some more possession without being able to test Hermione Cull between the sticks.

It was still Pompey looking more likely to add to the scoring, and after Alisha Ware was brought down 25 yards out, Wilson curled a fine free-kick against the crossbar.

But the Cherries advanced straight down the other end of the pitch and this time it was Jenna Markham’s turn to hit the woodwork.

Most of the action was still taking place at the other end of the pitch and Ware volleyed wide after being picked out in the box by Jazz Bull.

Corners were also proving fruitful, with Ware and Wison seeing attempts deflected narrowly wide in quick succession.

Skipper Bull then tried her luck with an opportunistic long-range strike that was dipping into the net before being tipped over by Scadding.

Bournemouth came close to levelling when Suttie was punished for a challenge just outside the box and Elena Cole left the crossbar rattling.

But the Blues then went close to doubling their lead before the break following a defensive error that sent Zoe Barratt racing clear before the ball fell for Blades to drill past the post.

The visitors continued to play on the front foot when the action restarted and once again the woodwork was struck.

Blades sent in a low delivery from wide on the right that was flicked on by Beattie and attacked by both Ware and Freeland.

It was the former who just about got there first as she hit a fierce shot that bounced back off the underside of the bar.

The clear-cut chances were not flowing quite so freely in the second half, however, which was turning into a rather stop-start affair.

Beattie appeared to pick up a knock and was eventually replaced, although referee Drew Hyndman decided she did not limp off quickly enough and delayed Summer Hughes’ introduction.

Bournemouth should have levelled on 70 minutes when Bella Hall delivered from the right and Cull could not grab hold of the ball, but Issy Bryant fired wastefully wide.

Two more changes followed to freshen things up for the visitors, as Suttie and Dahou made way for Wilding and Jones.

It was then Pompey’s turn to let their opponents off the hook when Freeland’s threaded pass sent Barratt through on goal, but she scuffed wide as her former side breathed a sigh of relief.

Recent loan arrival Rania Oukriss came on for Blades to make her debut for the closing stages of the contest, while Roberts also replaced Barratt.

And although the Cherries applied late pressure in search of an equaliser, the visitors defended resolutely to claim all three points.

Pompey: Cull; Bull (c), Suttie (Wilding 77), Wilson, Ware; Freeland, Dahou (Jones 77), Hazard; Blades (Oukriss 80), Beattie (Hughes 66), Barratt (Roberts 88) Subs not used: Pettit, Hutchings