Real Bedford Women Shine in 3-0 National League Debut
Real Bedford Women kicked off their National League campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Ashford Town. Goals from Abbie Bensted, Trisha Gould, and Milly Hayes secured the win, with Bedford controlling much of the game.
The new-look Real Bedford Women’s side made their debut in the National League at the Ledger Stadium, hosting Ashford Town.
Following a summer of significant changes, which saw the arrival of Charlie Bill as manager and a host of new faces from MK Dons, all eyes were on how the Pirates would fare in the National League. Erin Price was the only player from last season’s squad to remain, anchoring as part of the defence as the team embarked on their latest campaign.
The opening 10 minutes of the match were a tense and cagey affair. Both teams seemed to be testing the waters, with neither side able to create any clear-cut chances in front of goal.
As the first half wore on, Real Bedford began to assert their dominance, pushing Ashford Town back with wave after wave of attack. The first real opportunity came when Trisha Gould broke down the left wing, cutting inside the box only to see her shot drift narrowly wide of the post.
The breakthrough came in the 26th minute. A well-taken corner from Gemma Biggadike was delivered deep into the box, finding the head of Sofia Stovold. Stovold directed her header into the ground, and as the ball bounced up, it was met by the head of Abbie Bensted, who looped it over the Ashford goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The Pirates had the lead.
Ashford Town responded by pushing for an equaliser, but Real Bedford’s defence, marshaled expertly by Stovold, remained resilient. Ashford’s best chance came from a long-range effort by Brogan Morgan in the 40th minute, but her shot sailed high and wide, leaving Bedford’s lead intact.
Just before the break, Real Bedford nearly doubled their advantage. Ciara Meola, who was a constant threat throughout the game and eventually named Player of the Match, danced past a defender and into the box, only to see her shot drift agonisingly wide of the far post. The Pirates went into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.
Second Half
The second half saw Real Bedford continue to press for a second goal. In the 60th minute, Abbie Bensted had a golden opportunity to score grab a brace when Hannah Warren delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. However, Bensted could only direct her header straight at the Ashford goalkeeper, keeping the visitors in the game.
Four minutes later, the Pirates finally found their second goal. Trisha Gould, who had been a constant menace on the left flank, collected the ball from Emily Wilson and charged towards the box. After a neat one-two with Bensted, Gould found herself in front of goal, and though it took her three attempts, she finally slotted the ball home. Unfortunately, the goal came at a cost as Ashford’s goalkeeper, Emma Vigolo, was injured during the play, leading to a lengthy delay.
Late in the game, substitute Alex Dicks entered the fray and showcased why the Pirates were so keen to secure her signature. Twice she broke through the Ashford defense, only to be let down by a heavy touch. A cross from Meola was well saved by Ashford’s replacement goalkeeper, but Dicks’ energy and potential were clear for all to see.
As the match neared its conclusion, the Pirates had one final chance to put the game beyond doubt. Substitute Milly Hayes, set up brilliantly by Dicks, spotted the goalkeeper off her line and produced a sublime chip to seal the match at 3-0.
RBFC Women: Guy, Warren (Newman ‘89), Puddick, Biggadike, Price (Evans ‘89), Stovold, Mitchell, Wilson (Dicks 84’), Bensted (McLean ‘79), Gould (Hayes ‘84), Meola
Real Bedford 3 - 0 Ashford Town
18th August, 2024
Kick-off: 2pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
