Late Equaliser Denies Real Bedford Victory Against London Bees
Real Bedford were left frustrated as a late equaliser from London Bees denied them all three points in a 2-2 draw at The Ledger Stadium. Despite a strong start, the Pirates couldn’t hold on to their lead, leaving the team to reflect on what felt like a missed opportunity.
The game began with intensity, and Bedford wasted no time in asserting themselves. In just the 3rd minute, Tricia Gould dazzled the opposition with a sensational solo run, dribbling past several defenders and the goalkeeper before coolly slotting the ball into the net to give Bedford an early 1-0 lead.
The visitors responded quickly, though. In the 10th minute, a corner led to a scramble in the Bedford box, and London Bees’ Burrows pounced, lashing the ball into the net to equalise.
Bedford pushed forward again, looking to regain their advantage. After 15 minutes, McLean released Gould down the left wing. Gould delivered a low-driven cross into the box for Meola, who struck first-time, but Hotiet’s crucial block saved the Bees.
The visitors had a golden opportunity in the 34th minute when Heil split the Bedford defence with a perfectly timed through ball to Burrows. One-on-one with Sansom, Burrows rounded the keeper and looked certain to score, but Hannah Warren produced a heroic block to deny what seemed a certain goal.
The teams went into the break level at 1-1, with both sides showing flashes of quality.
Second Half
Real Bedford came out of half time slowly, with Durn testing Sansom in the 47th minute. Her shot from the edge of the box was heading for the bottom corner, but Sansom made a fantastic save to push it wide.
Bedford began to apply more pressure, and in the 51st minute, Meola played a delightful through ball to Bensted, whose weak-footed shot narrowly missed the target. Substitute Milly Hayes almost produced a moment of magic in the 70th minute, unleashing a speculative effort from distance that beat the keeper but rattled the crossbar.
Moments later, Warren drove down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross for Gould, who was unmarked in the box. However, her shot from close range flew over the bar.
Bedford finally regained the lead in the 74th minute. Hayes floated a perfectly delivered corner into the box, where O’Leary was waiting at the back post to fire the Pirates into a 2-1 lead. The goal was dedicated to Courtney Clarke who has just had to receive surgery after a bad injury she received recently.
As the game approached its conclusion, Amber Gaylor made her long-awaited debut in the 85th minute, returning from injury to a warm reception from the crowd.
However, just as Bedford looked to be closing out the game, disaster struck in the 89th minute. Hoare sent a dangerous cross into the Bedford box, and Affri expertly volleyed it past Sansom to level the game at 2-2.
The full-time whistle blew, and while both teams earned a point, it felt more like a defeat for Real Bedford, who had worked so hard to hold their lead until the dying moments.
The Pirates are next at home on Sunday 5th January, facing QPR in the league. Tickets for the match are available here.
RBFC Women: Sansom, Warren, Puddick, Biggadike, Evans, Stovold, McLean (O’Leary 71’), Gould, Mitchell (Gaylor 85’), Meola, Bensted (Hayes 64’).
Unused subs: Guy.
Real Bedford 2 - 1 London Bees
15th December, 2024
Kick-off: 2pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
