Kenni Thompson notched her eighth goal of the season to help Bournemouth retain the Adopt South Women’s Hampshire Senior Cup last night.

The Cherries prevailed 3-1 against Southampton with Thompson, who was later named player of the match, opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 20th minute in a repeat of last year’s final between the Women’s National League Division One South West rivals.

The victory came just a week after Bournemouth missed out on promotion when drawing 1-1 with title rivals Exeter City in a title decider despite being unbeaten in the league but Thompson was elated to have finished the season on a high

“I’m really happy to finish the season with a trophy,” an elated Thompson told The Royal Gazette after the final whistle.

“The team have worked hard this season and to have the disappointment of last week and still come back from a week of training and get the win against a good side shows the strength of this team.”

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The 23-year-old Bermuda winger drew first blood after sending Southampton goalkeeper Mia King the wrong way from 12 yards after her initial shot struck the arm of defender Kate Jeffery inside the box

Kaylee Buckingham, the sister of Bournemouth striker Alisha, equalised for Southampton in the 38th minute after heading home the first goal conceded by the Cherries in this year’s competition from Daisy Beard’s corner.

Bournemouth were back in front just moments later when Lucy Cooper bundled in from a goalmouth scramble following Thompson’s corner to restore her team’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

There was still enough time before the interval for Thompson to drill a shot wide, while team-mate Molly Barron-Clark saw her deflected effort pushed on to the post by Saints goalkeeper King.

Midfielder Barron-Clark brought off another fine save by King early in the second half and then had another effort deflected off Saints defender Anya Lucas and narrowly clear the crossbar.

Bournemouth’s Amber Treweek also had a shot saved by King, while Thompson could not believe her luck after heading against the post and then just failing to get on the end of Barron-Clark’s flick.

Thompson’s side then rode their luck as Jeffery came close to levelling again for the Saints when her 25-yard drive crashed off the woodwork and team-mate Sky Bedwell lofted the rebound well over the crossbar.

At the other end Bournemouth’s Gemma McGuiness also went close when she pinged the woodwork.

With the game still wide open, substitute striker Erin Bloomfield headed in Bournemouth’s third goal from Barron-Clark’s free kick in the last minute of added time to finally settle an exciting cup final.