Bensted brilliance secures important home point for the Pirates
By Will Murray
Real Bedford were held to a 1-1 draw against Norwich City at The Eyrie. Abbie Bensted’s second half strike cancelled out Natasha Snelling’s half-volley for the visitors. The result keeps the Pirates five points clear of the fourth-placed Canaries, while they sit a point behind the league leaders, Chatham Town.
Charlie Bill’s side started the game quickly, coming close to the opener in the third minute when Amber Gaylor’s first-time half-volley was well saved by Sarah Quantrill.
Both teams struggled for fluency in the first 45 minutes, with chances few and far between. Breon Grant saw her effort hit the side-netting in the 29th minute, but the hosts found themselves behind, for the first time in the league this season, a minute later after a moment of brilliance from Snelling. The 32-year-old brought down a long ball from a Norwich defender before firing home a crisp half-volley past Chloe Sansom.
The best chance Bedford had to equalise before half-time was through a Leyla O’Brien free-kick on the edge of the box, but her effort was gathered by Quantrill, meaning the visitors went in a goal ahead.
Second Half
Norwich set up in a compact shape throughout the second half, making it difficult for the Pirates to create clear-cut chances. In the 59th minute, Quantrill pulled off another impressive save – denying Bensted’s left-footed effort after the corner was cleared to Bedford’s number 10.
After this, the hosts found their rhythm, with O’Brien and Gaylor both shooting over following some intricate attacking play. Bensted came close again in the 73rd minute, narrowly shooting wide after a forward run from player-of-the-match Nicola Puddick.
Bensted was not to be denied again, though, receiving the ball from Grant and firing a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner to bring the hosts level with 15 minutes to play.
Both teams came close to scoring the winner in the closing stages, with Holly Kennard shooting over for the visitors and Quantrill denying Grant and Sofia Stovold.
The Pirates had to settle for a point and will be looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to Ashford Town on Sunday, 9th February.
After the match, Bill said:
“Being behind in that game was the first experience – I think that’s the first time that has happened in the league, so it probably took a little bit from us and rocked us a little bit.
“We’ve come out of this spell of London Bees, Chatham Town, AFC Sudbury last week, and this game still a point off top. We have to be proud of that and we have to make sure we keep winning games of football.”
The Pirates are next at home on Sunday 9th March, facing Actonians in the league.
RBFC Women: Sansom, Warren, Puddick, Biggadike (Hayes 75’), Evans, Stovold, Gaylor, O’Brien (McLean 84’), Meola, Bensted, Grant.
Unused subs: Wilson, Guy, Newman.
Real Bedford 1 - 1 Norwich City
2nd February, 2025
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Location: The Eyrie
