CHERRIES Women continued their unbeaten start to the National League season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Southampton.

Recent arrival Jade Bradley scored the only goal of the contest, the former Portsmouth midfielder firing home six minutes into the second half.

The win sees Steve Cuss's side sitting third in the Division One South West table, now just two points behind leaders Southampton with a game in hand.

"Overall, I'm really pleased," boss Cuss told Cherries' website with his side still unbeaten after seven matches.

"We weren't at our level best going forward, but we've been in this situation a couple of times this season where it's been goalless and we've not been able to find that winning goal.

"The pleasing factor was that we kept ourselves in the game and had a real moment of quality to win it. I'm really pleased from that point of view.

"From the moment we got a goal in front, we controlled the game a little bit better than we have done when we were 1-0 up earlier in the season.

"Although the performance wasn't our fluent best, I was really pleased with the way we won and the way we finished the game - it was very strong."

He added: "Southampton are a really good side and top of the league, they've been on a great run.

"It was quite a boggy pitch with strong winds. It's the same for both sides but you have to find that different way of playing. It was a really good competitive game and a really good advert for the league."