STEVE Cuss hopes that Cherries women will continue to see growing crowds after a new record attendance was during a 4-0 victory over Portishead Town.

6,805 fans watched on as goals from Maisy Smith, Gemma McGuinness, Helen Bleazard, and Chloe Gilroy helped stretched Cherries’ winning start to their National League Division One South West campaign to nine wins from nine.

April’s 0-0 draw with Maidenhead United held the previous record of 3,067.

The official attendance was just shy of the average size of crowds during Cherries’ promotion from League One in the 2012-13 season.

On average 6,852 fans watched on as Eddie Howe’s team clinched promotion to the second tier, with a low of 4,951 against Walsall and a high of 9,135 against Portsmouth.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “Yes, it is kind of weird to think of it like that.

“But the growth of the women's game, it's just been incredible, particularly over the last three years.

“And we're seeing that - lots of new people getting the opportunity to come to the Vitality Stadium for the first time.

“Hopefully they'll keep following the team now and we can keep on building on this because it's been a great day for us.”