Four Goals and Three Points as the Pirates Breeze Past Oxford
By Will Murray
Real Bedford Women secured their third consecutive victory in all competitions, beating Oxford United 4-1 at the Ledger Stadium. Sofia Stovold, Abbie Bensted and a brace from Issy Bryant secured all three points for the Pirates to lift them to fourth in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table.
Before Sunday’s match, we held a minute silence to remember Matt Beard who tragically lost his life.
Charlie Bill’s side started confidently, and it was a familiar link-up that nearly saw Real Bedford go ahead after only nine minutes, as Gemma Biggadike’s corner was headed inches wide by Stovold.
Seven minutes later, the Pirates were ahead through Bryant. She picked up the ball on the left wing and fired an inch-perfect shot into the top right corner past Beth Wookey.
The lead was doubled in the 20th minute, with Stovold’s first-time strike from a wide Biggadike free-kick finding the net, after looping Wookey.
After relentless pressure from Real Bedford, chances kept on coming, and in the 32nd minute, Bryant completed her brace. She nicked the ball from the Oxford defender deep into the opposition half and calmly slotted past Wookey to give the Pirates a three-goal lead.
The U’s threatened to reduce the deficit before the break, but Nina Meollo was on hand to make a pair of important stops.
Second Half
Oxford came out quickly in the second half and nearly got one back through Emma Thompson. Her strike from a quick counter attack was wide of the post, though.
The Pirates had chances of their own, with Chloe Logie and Abbie Bensted both coming close after some sharp play from Breon Grant on the right wing.
In the 70th minute, Bill’s side had their fourth goal of the afternoon through Bensted. A Biggadike corner was cleared to the edge of the box, with the number 10’s low left-footed effort finding the bottom corner.
Real Bedford were denied a third consecutive clean sheet in the 83rd minute, when Ruby Sealey’s cross found Jenna Legg at the back post, who scored past Meollo from close range.
Despite this, the Pirates held on for a crucial three points to move ahead of the visitors after five games.
Macey Herd also returned to the squad after a long period on the sidelines, rounding up a perfect day at the Ledger Stadium.
In his post-match interview, Bill said:
“That is one of our biggest wins as a coaching staff at tier three. I said prior to the game how good Oxford are and have been for years.
I thought in the first-half, we were phenomenal. The use of the ball was really good and the intensity of our press was excellent. All in all, I’m incredibly proud of what the team showed today.”
Next up for the Pirates is the final FAWNL Cup group game against Peterborough United on Sunday 28th September.
Lineup: Meollo, Byrom, Stovold, Evans, Williams, Biggadike (Hayes 89’), Rush, Grant, Bensted (Gaylor 78’), Bryant, Logie (O’Brien 78’).
Unused subs: Tambula, Herd.
Real Bedford 4-1 Oxford United
Sunday 21st September 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
