There was just under 6,000 fans in attendance at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night as Bournemouth women went top of the league. 

The Cherries played their first game of the season at the men’s stadium and there was a near-record attendance for the team.

Bournemouth women go top at Vitality

Bournemouth went top of the Southern Premier division with a win against Oxford United.

Early goals from Charlotte Harris and Sophie Quirk were enough to seal all three points despite a late strike from Oxford’s Shaunna Jenkins.

Match-winner Quirk spoke to media after the game and credited Bournemouth’s ’12th player’ in the stands.

“It was a brilliant game and a brilliant atmosphere. To get the three points against an established tier-three team is unbelievable,” Quirk said. “It was such a good team performance. Everyone ran their socks off and it was brilliant.

“We have such a special togetherness around the team and that can get you so far. It’s that extra 12^th player in the game. You can’t measure it but it’s such an important part.”

There was 5,850 fans in attendance at the Vitality on Wednesday for the Cherries’ first game of the season at the...