Fast-Starting Pirates Seal Commanding Cup Win
London Bees 0-4 Real Bedford Women
FAWNL League Cup - Group P
Real Bedford Women struck four times inside the opening 21 minutes to secure an emphatic 4-0 victory over London Bees at The Hive.
The Pirates wasted no time making their mark. With barely a minute played, Whitelock slotted the ball home towards the far post to give the Pirates the perfect start.
An early injury forced Real Bedford into a change, with Maddison Millington-Stanbury replaced by Erica Meale after five minutes between the sticks, but the disruption did little to slow their momentum.
Head made it 2-0 in the 11th minute, producing an excellent run before placing her finish into the bottom-right corner. It was a memorable way to open her account for the club, and Real Bedford soon extended their lead further.
Just two minutes later, Byrom followed up a shot from McLean to score the Pirates’ third. She was on hand again in the 21st minute, this time reacting to a Whitelock effort and tapping into the bottom-right corner to complete her quick-fire double.
With a four-goal cushion established, Real Bedford continued to press for more. Amber Gaylor tested the Bees goalkeeper with a powerful strike from outside the box in the 25th minute, while Nicola Puddick was denied by another fine save as she aimed towards the top-left corner.
At the other end, Cunnison helped keep the hosts at bay with some strong defending. London Bees sent an effort over the bar in first-half stoppage time, before Blue Bartlett-Antwi produced an important block outside the box to ensure Real Bedford reached the interval with their clean sheet intact.
Second half
The Pirates introduced Mylee Baker and Anele Komani for Byrom and Gaylor at half-time and quickly resumed their search for a fifth.
Bartlett-Antwi made contact with an early second-half corner, with Baker almost reaching the loose ball before the hosts cleared. Warren then forced an impressive save with a powerful effort in the 49th minute.
Komani also threatened, showing skilful footwork to move past defenders inside the box before attempting to find Whitelock in front of goal, only for the delivery to be blocked.
Bedford remained alert defensively, with Blue cutting out a dangerous Bees cross on the hour mark. Further changes followed as Daisy Hind replaced Puddick in the 62nd minute and Lucy Wood came on for Whitelock with 71 minutes played.
McLean tested the goalkeeper from distance, while the Bees fired wide as they searched for a consolation. The Pirates continued to create openings into the closing stages, with McLean linking up with Head before the move ran out of space.
Baker supplied one final inviting cross in the 90th minute, but Wood was unable to get past her defender to make contact.
There was no addition to the score after Real Bedford’s devastating opening spell. Four goals, a clean sheet and a controlled performance ensured a convincing away victory for the Pirates in Group P.
Next up for Real Bedford is a trip to AFC Wimbledon in the league on Sunday, 13th September.
Lineup: Millington-Stanbury, Warren (C), Bartlett-Antwi, Cunnison, Puddick, Gaylor, Georgiou, McLean, Byrom, Whitelock, Head.
Subs: Meale, Mehmet, Wood, Baker, Komani, Delglyn, Hind.