The Pirates win Back-to-back league titles with dominant 11-1 home win
By Will Murray
Real Bedford Women wrapped up the FAWNL Division One South East title, with an 11-1 victory against London Seaward. Amber Gaylor, Nicola Puddick, Leyla O’Brien and Amy McLean got on the scoresheet, while Sofia Stovold and Abbie Bensted both scored hat-tricks in front of a record crowd of 442 at the Ledger Stadium.
The Pirates started quickly, with Gaylor whipping a free-kick from the right into the top corner after only two minutes. Gaylor’s early strike helped to settle any potential nerves, and the lead became two in the 14th minute when Gemma Biggadike’s pinpoint corner was headed home by Stovold.
The number six doubled her tally eight minutes later, getting on the end of another Biggadike corner. Stovold turned provider for the fourth, sending Hannah Warren through on the right-hand side before she cut it back to Bensted, who fired past the London Seaward goalkeeper.
After 34 minutes, the lead was five. Jess Evans lifted a ball to Puddick on the left wing, who utilised her pace to drive forward and smash the ball home.
The visitors struggled to create chances throughout the afternoon but scored a consolation goal in the 38th minute. Sarah Roberts received the ball from 30 yards out, before taking a perfectly placed lobbed shot that found it’s way over Chloe Sansom.
This didn’t stop the Pirates’ dominance, though, and three minutes later the five-goal lead was restored. O’Brien received the ball on the right wing and curled the ball into the far corner with her left-foot.
Second Half
Charlie Bill’s side kept pushing after the break, scoring their seventh of the afternoon when Bensted was fouled in the box before she stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.
Two minutes later, Gaylor scored another impressive goal, lobbing the goalkeeper from 35 yards to add an eighth for the Pirates.
London Seaward struggled to contain Stovold from set pieces throughout the match, and in the 60th minute, she completed her hat-trick, tucking away another Biggadike corner.
Bill made a quadruple substitution in the 69th minute, including McLean and Emily Wilson, who were both lively during their cameos.
Bensted became the second player to complete her hat-trick in the 80th minute, calmly heading the ball over the goalkeeper.
There was still time for one more, though, when McLean headed home from close range after Bensted’s original effort was saved.
The full-time whistle went, meaning the Pirates lifted their second trophy of the season, adding to their County Cup triumph last month.
After the match, Bill said:
“So so proud of what they’ve done. This journey started from day one and it was important to get pre-season right because it’s nine long months.
“The journey has been an incredible one and to top it off today, scoring those goals in front of this record crowd, it was incredible.”
RBFC Women: Sansom, Warren (Newman 77’), Puddick, Stovold (Meadows-Tuson 65’), Evans, Meola (Wilson 65’), Biggadike Gaylor (Hayes 65’), O’Brien (McLean 65’), Grant, Bensted.
The Pirates head into their final game of the season, away to Dulwich Hamlet in 2 weeks time.
RBFC: McGregor, Morrell, S. Ward, Longden, Richardson, Watkins, Jones (Hitchcock 90+3), Galliford (Agemoh-Davies 90’), Stevens (Nicolson 90+5), Setchell, Evans.
Real Bedford 11-1 London Seaward
13th April 2025
Kick-off: 2pm
Location: The Ledger Stadium
