Bensted Scores Five as Real Bedford Overwhelm Chesham in 14-Goal Thriller
Real Bedford delivered a dominant display in an extraordinary league encounter with Chesham, ending in a jaw-dropping 12-2 victory. The Pirates’ relentless attack overwhelmed Chesham, leading to a match full of goals and standout performances, especially from Abbie Bensted, who netted five times.
Real Bedford came out looking strong, setting the pace from the start. Their dominance paid off in the 20th minute when Chesham’s defense failed to clear a corner, and O’Brien capitalised, slotting the ball past the keeper for her first goal for the Pirates.
Only four minutes later, McLean received the ball on the edge of the box and drilled it into the bottom left corner, doubling Bedford’s lead.
The pressure continued, and in the 40th minute, O’Brien’s brilliant work down the left set up Bensted, who lobbed the keeper to make it 3-0. Real Bedford closed the half in control, with the promise of more goals to come.
Second Half
Bedford picked up right where they left off as just two minutes after the restart, Biggadike and Mitchell combined down the right, allowing O’Brien to latch onto a low cross and score her second goal of the game. Moments later, Mitchell found the net but was ruled offside.
In the 50th minute, Bensted picked up the ball outside the area, turned and launched a fierce drive into the top right hand corner of the goal. Meola followed up with an audacious lob in the 52nd, putting the Pirates up 6-0.
Chesham fought back in the 56th minute, winning their first corner. Tash Smith’s cross found Gemma Fraser, who smashed it past Sansom for their first goal. Just minutes later, Chesham won a penalty, and Fraser converted high and to the right, reducing the deficit to 6-2.
Unfazed, Bedford responded in the 64th minute as Biggadike’s corner found Stovold at the back post for the Pirates’ seventh goal. Two minutes later, Biggadike struck again from long range, her shot deflecting off a defender to make it 8-2. McLean added her second with a stunning top-corner shot in the 70th, bringing the tally to 9-2.
A late penalty for Bedford in the 73rd minute offered Emily Wilson a chance to score, but the Chesham keeper saved her attempt. However, Bedford continued pressing, and in the 89th minute, Bensted completed her hat-trick, driving the ball past the keeper for the Pirates' tenth goal.
The game seemed over, but Bensted wasn’t finished. In stoppage time, O’Leary won the ball back and set her up for a fourth goal in the 90+6th minute. Then, in the 90+11th, Bensted crowned her exceptional performance by blasting her fifth past the keeper, leaving fans and teammates speechless.
The final whistle blew on a phenomenal 12-2 victory for Real Bedford.
The Pirates are next at home on Sunday 17th November, facing Dulwich Hamlet in the league. Tickets for the match are available here.
RBFC Women: Sansom, Warren (Newman 89’), Puddick, Biggadike (Hayes 71’), Clarke, Stovold, McLean, O’Brien (Wilson 61’), Mitchell (O’Leary 71’), Meola, Bensted.
Real Bedford 12 - 2 Chesham
27th October, 2024
Kick-off: 2pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
