Champagne on ice as Goalless draw at Sudbury prolongs title celebrations
By Will Murray
Real Bedford were unable to secure the league title at AFC Sudbury, as they were held to a 0-0 draw at The Mel Group Stadium. Charlie Bill’s side had a number of opportunities on the afternoon, but Sudbury’s goalkeeper, Nina Meollo, was in inspired form. The result leaves the Pirates five points clear of Norwich City with two games to go.
The first 20 minutes of the game were cagey, but the Pirates created chances through Abbie Bensted, Leyla O’Brien and Breon Grant. Despite a positive start, the hosts were nearly in front midway through the first half when Sudbury had two efforts cleared off the line, including Jade Barrett’s header from the initial corner.
This chance kicked the Pirates into gear, and in the 32nd minute, Bensted fired a half-volley from inside the box narrowly wide. Five minutes later, O’Brien won the ball back high before cutting it back to Bensted again, who shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Grant and Amber Gaylor threatened with late chances just before the break, but the teams went in goalless.
Second Half
After the interval, Bill’s side cut through the Sudbury defence on multiple occasions, with Grant and O’Brien both denied by impressive Meollo saves.
The Pirates’ number 22 thought she had opened the scoring in the 55th minute when she picked the ball up on the left wing and hit a curling right-footed effort goalwards, but Meollo somehow tipped the ball over to keep the match level.
Two minutes later, Meollo denied Jess Evans, who rose highest from a Gemma Biggadike corner, but her header was tipped onto the bar by the Sudbury shot-stopper.
The Pirates came close again from another corner in the 78th minute when Sofia Stovold’s header from Biggadike’s delivery hit the crossbar.
Due to various stoppages in play and substitutions, over 10 minutes of added time were played. The Pirates piled forward in search of the goal that would have secured the league title, with Bensted and Emily Wilson both coming close. They were unable to find the goal, though, keeping the Canaries in the title race for two weeks longer.
After the game, Bill said:
“We probably couldn’t create more moments and not score. I think we’ve hit the post or crossbar three or four times. Fair play to Sudbury as well – my biggest thing all week has been that no team is just going to just let you win the title.
“When you’re top of the league, players naturally want to step up their game and that’s what Sudbury did today.
“They showed a real determination to keep the ball out of the net and I thought their goalkeeper was superb. Four or five unbelievable stops that kept them in it.”
The Pirates are next at home on CheatCode Conference weekend, Sunday 13th April, facing London Seaward in the league. Tickets for the match are available here
RBFC: Sansom, Warren, Puddick, Stovold, Evans, Biggadike, Meola (Wilson 89’), Bensted, Gaylor, Grant (McLean 79’), O’Brien.
Unused subs: Hayes, Meadows-Tuson
AFC Sudbury 0 - 0 Real Bedford
30th March 2025
Kick-off: 2pm
Location: The MEL Group Stadium
