Bournemouth edged out the Devon side 1-0 to win the cup, after they won the plate last term, returning to Dorset with silverware after their first appearance in the League Cup final.
Bleazard’s side opened the scoring after just six minutes as Kenni Thompson scored direct from a corner, and they were defensively excellent for the remaining 84 minutes.
While Plymouth turned the screw, particularly in the final ten minutes, the Cherries held firm to keep a clean sheet and clinch the cup.
That result was made sweeter after Bournemouth’s 2-1 defeat to Argyle last weekend in the league, as they enacted revenge on Plymouth.
Reflecting on the game, Bleazard told the Daily Echo: “Honestly, it’s a relief because of where we were going towards the end of the game, but at the same time, the girls dominated so much today.
Helen Bleazard (Image: Richard Crease)
“I’m so proud of the team, I’m so proud of the club, I’m so proud of everyone.”
Thompson’s goal was a touch of class in a tight game that needed a piece of magic to make the difference.
That came in the sixth minute, as she scored directly from a corner, but Bleazard was not surprised when Thompson found the back of the net.
“She’s always got that in her locker,” she said.
“I’m not surprised by the fact it went in. That’s just Kenni. I’ve always said she’s got a wonderful left foot and she proved that today!”
While the Cherries went into an early lead, they were hugely impressive defensively.
Jessica Hennessy earned player of the match, but Katie Scadding was imperious in goal, and the whole team contributed to the side’s strong defensive showing.
Asked how pleased she was with that side of her team’s performance, Bleazard said: “I came in half-time and I said your press has been superb.
Kelci Bowers (Image: Antony Roveschi)
“I think we just needed a little bit more aggression this week than what I think we had last week. And I’ve said it all week about fuelling from the hurt that we had because we played well last week and the result didn’t go our way.
“But I knew, we didn’t change our game plan, we just put a few different tweaks in and we were really, really dominant today.
“Yes, the scoreline’s only 1-0, but you have to ride the luck a few times. Sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it doesn’t.
“Today we rode it in the last 10 minutes, but the first 80 minutes we were absolutely superb. And even when we were riding our luck a little bit and they were pressing on, that happens in football.
“You’re never going to be dominant for 90 minutes. But I thought the girls’ energy, their work rate, usually it’s me being the loudest voice. But there were so many voices today and that’s what counts.”