Real Bedford Women Continue Pre-Season Form With Impressive Cambridge Victory
By Will Murray
Real Bedford Women secured a second consecutive pre-season away victory, beating Cambridge United 4-1 at Swavesey Village College. Leyla O’Brien, Breon Grant, Lucy Wood and Abbie Bensted were the goalscorers for the Pirates.
Charlie Bill’s side faced the U’s three last times last season, winning one, drawing one, and losing the other. The Pirates knew it wasn’t going to be a straightforward pre-season test, but started quickly. Grant was lively in the early stages, and in the 11th minute, O’Brien put Real Bedford Women in front.
She picked up the ball on the left wing before cutting inside and firing brilliantly into the top of the net past the Cambridge goalkeeper.
The Pirates continued to create chances in the first-half, with trialist number seven and Wood both coming close with long-range efforts.
Cambridge had chances themselves, particularly from long throws, which were threatening throughout.
The defence stood firm, though, and in the 26th minute the lead was doubled through Grant. She was set free on the right wing and her lofted effort from out wide deceived the goalkeeper and found the top left corner.
The Pirates had chances to extend their advantage before the break, with Amber Gaylor and Grant both having efforts well saved. We had to settle for a 2-0 lead, which was well deserved on the balance of play.
After the interval, Sean Greygoose’s side were much improved, and nearly halved the deficit two minutes into the half. Zoe Wood found space in the box, but the trialist goalkeeper was equal to her low strike.
The U’s found a way back into the game in the 74th minute when the ball was played back to the trialist goalkeeper, who was dispossessed, allowing the Cambridge striker to tap into an empty net.
Bill’s side responded with chances through Wood and Sofia Stovold, who were both denied by impressive saves.
The Pirates were not to be denied much longer, though. O’Brien, who was a thorn in Cambridge’s side throughout the evening, raced past her opposition full-back and cut it back to Wood, whose right-footed strike hit the underside of the bar and narrowly crossed the line in the 78th minute.
O’Brien was the creator once more three minutes later, when her deflected cross found its way to Bensted at the backpost, who scored her first goal of pre-season.
After the win at Cambridge, Assistant Manager Laura Bright said:
“Really pleased. We’re at that stage of pre-season where we’re looking to add intensity to what we do. I thought there was more fluidity in terms of our build-up play and possession. I thought we dictated periods without necessarily dominating the whole 90 minutes.
I think it has set us up really well for the final three weeks of pre-season where we really start focusing on gameweek one.”
Next up for the Pirates is a home match against Fulham on Sunday 27th July. Tickets will be free for all attending.
You can also view our full fixture list for the FAWNL Southern Premier Division here, which begins on Sunday 17th August against AFC Wimbledon.
Lineup: Trialist, Warren, Trialist, Evans Puddick, Biggadike, Trialist, Wood, O’Brien, Trialist, Grant.
First Half Subs: 32’ - Gaylor, Stovold, Hayes, Byrom
Second Half Subs: 46’ - Bensted, 67’ - Trialist
Cambridge United 1-4 Real Bedford
Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Location: Swavesey Village College
