Five-star Pirates extend unbeaten RUN in THE league
By Will Murray
Real Bedford moved back to the top of the FAWNL Division One South East table, beating Queens Park Rangers 5-0 at the Ledger Stadium. Nicola Puddick, Amber Gaylor, Leyla O’Brien, Sofia Stovold and Breon Grant scored the goals for the Pirates, maintaining their unbeaten record in the league with only six games to play.
It took until four minutes for Charlie Bill’s side to find the opener, with Puddick taking the ball past a couple of defenders and firing into the bottom corner past Chrissie Wiggins.
The Pirates dominated the early proceedings and doubled their lead seven minutes later through a moment of brilliance from Gaylor. After Wiggins charged up the pitch to clear the ball, Gaylor took advantage of the QPR goalkeeper being off her line – scoring from 40 yards out.
QPR threatened to halve the deficit with chances of their own and Abbie Bensted also came close with a couple of half chances midway through the first half.
In the 29th minute, the Pirates scored their third through O’Brien, grabbing her sixth in three matches in all competitions. Like Puddick, she picked the ball up on the left-hand side before driving forward into the box and scoring past Wiggins.
Bedford extended their advantage a further four minutes later through Stovold. A free-kick from Gemma Biggadike was headed into the box by Jess Evans, and after the visitors failed to clear, the Pirates’ number six tucked home.
An eventful first half then saw Bensted add a fifth, which was ruled out due to a foul in the buildup, then QPR were awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute. Grace Stanley stepped up, but she was denied by a strong save from Chloe Sansom.
Second Half
While the opening 45 minutes was about fast, attacking play, the second half was much more about control and managing the game.
Two minutes after the hour mark, Grant scored her first goal for the club, picking up a perfectly weighted outside the foot ball from Gaylor and slotting past Wiggins.
QPR threatened to get on the scoresheet, hitting the crossbar from a free-kick five minutes later, but they were unable to find a way past Sansom.
In the closing stages, Freya Meadows-Tuson made her debut for the Pirates after officially signing for the club on Sunday. She replaced Puddick in the 84th minute and helped the team secure a well-deserved three points.
After the game, player of the match captain Gemma Biggadike said:
“There were a few nerves in the changing room before we started. We had a couple of weeks without a game but to come here and win that game 5-0 in a totally dominant performance – I’m really proud of everyone involved.”
The Pirates are next at home on Sunday 9th January, facing Actonians in the league. Tickets for the match are available here.
RBFC Women: Sansom, Warren (Newman 76’), Puddick (Meadows-Tuson 84’), Biggadike, Evans, Stovold, Gaylor (Hayes 68’), Meola, Bensted (Wilson 76’), O’Brien (McLean 68’), Grant
Real Bedford 5 - 0 QPR
2nd March, 2025
Kick-off: 2pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
