FA Women’s National League Division One (South-East)
Team: Wiggins, Miaki, Brooks, Lewin, Cooper, Hill, Blodgett, D’Santos, Ward-Chambers, Stanley, Dzyadyk
Subs: McCrea, Sampson, Owen
My first trip to the Ledger Stadium and I must say well done to them for producing such an excellent (with its very distinctive cover) match programme.
I knew that Real Beford were known as the ‘Pirates’ and that they endorsed the skull & crossbones emblem, but I didn’t know that a related song is played at various times on match day:
‘Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A Pirate’s life for me,
We pillage, we plunder…….’
The home side were ahead within four minutes when Nicola Puddick weaved her way into the box before picking her spot.
The Pirates doubled their lead seven minutes later after the R’s keeper had advanced outside the box to clear the ball. Amber Gaylor seeing her well off her line, lobbed the ball into the net from a good 35-yards.
Two minutes later, Grace Stanley shot wide of the upright.
At this point, Shoko Miaki and Jess Cooper switched positions.
Real Bedford went further ahead just before the half-hour mark. Leyla O’Brien got to the bye-line and then went on to squeeze the ball inside the far-post.
The hosts went four-up on 33 minutes. Gemma Biggadike’s free kick from just outside the centre-circle, was headed into the box by Jess Evans and Sofia Stovold was on hand to hook the ball into the back of the net.
At the other end, Courtnay Ward-Chambers’ strike from the left-flank sailed over the crossbar.
Abbie Bensted had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out due to a foul in the build-up.
The R’s were awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute after Grace Stanley was fouled in the box. The referee booked Chloe Sansom for time-wasting before saving the Rangers striker’s spot-kick. Half-time: 0-4.
Into the second-half, and Chrissie Wiggins made a superb diving save at the near-post.
On 62 minutes, Breon Grant ran half the length of the pitch before cutting in and slotting home from close range.
Danny Harrigan then made his first change of the afternoon when Chloe Sampson came on for Annie Dzyadyk.
Rangers came close to a consolation goal a few minutes later when Courtnay Ward-Chambers’ free kick from a good 30-yards out, dipped onto the crossbar.
Chloe Sampson went down with a knock to her knee, but after some attention she was able to continue.
On 75 minutes, Renai McCrea replaced Jess Cooper and five minutes later Izzy Owen was introduced at the expense of Billie Brooks.
Rangers battled on and good defensive covering by Emily Hill, when she cut across the pitch to nullify the danger.
She was booked in the closing stages after impeding the Pirate’s striker’s run upfield.
This win meant that Real Bedford maintained their unbeaten league run.
As for the R’s, they then travelled to Redbridge FC’s Oakside Stadium to take on London Seaward.
Steve Russell