Real Bedford Women End Pre-Season with Loughborough Defeat
By Will Murray
Real Bedford Women finished pre-season with a 4-3 away defeat against Loughborough Lightning. The hosts scored two second half goals to overturn a 3-2 deficit, after first-half goals from Jess Evans, Amber Gaylor and Sofia Stovold.
It was an open start to the game, with both sides coming close to opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes. Breon Grant’s low cross to Sophie Byrom was poked inches wide in the ninth minute before the trialist goalkeeper made a sharp stop to deny the Loughborough attacker a minute later.
In the 14th minute, the hosts were ahead through their number nine. A floated cross found the striker, whose first-time effort found the back of the net.
Lightning’s pressure didn’t relent, with the Pirates somehow surviving a goalline scramble from a corner midway through the first-half.
Despite coming under pressure in the early stages, Charlie Bill’s side responded in the 32nd minute through an Evans header. The centre-back rose highest from a pinpoint Gemma Biggadike corner to get the Pirates back on level terms.
Four minutes later, the Pirates were ahead once again. A high cross from Biggadike on the left wing was expertly brought down by Gaylor, and with her second touch, she poked the ball past the Lightning goalkeeper.
There was time for two more goals in a frantic end to the first-half. Lightning equalised in the 42nd minute through their number 24 after a goalline scramble.
Seconds before the half-time whistle, the Pirates were back in front – this time through Stovold. Another Biggadike corner was headed home by the centre-back to give the Pirates a lead at the break.
Second Half
The game didn’t settle down after the interval, with the hosts scoring the sixth goal of the match in the 48th minute. Lightning’s number 24 scored her second of the afternoon when the number 21 squared it to her for a tap-in.
Bill’s side continued to look threatening going forward, and in the 51st minute, Byrom was inches away from putting the Pirates ahead again. She was released by Issy Bryant, who breezed past a few Lightning defenders and Byrom eventually fired inches wide of the right post with her left foot.
Seven minutes later, the hosts were ahead for the second time in the game. A corner was cleared to the edge of the box, where the number 14 was well placed to fire a first-time effort into the bottom corner past the trialist goalkeeper.
The Pirates searched for an equaliser in the last 30 minutes, with Hannah Warren denied a penalty in the 77th minute after being taken down in the box. Grant and Abbie Bensted also saw their efforts narrowly miss the target.
After a late flurry, Real Bedford were unable to score their fourth of the afternoon, ending pre-season with a 4-3 defeat against step three opposition.
In his post-match interview, Bill said:
“I thought we had a lot of control in the game. We used the ball really well – it is a massive pitch here, so it allowed us to play our football.
All in all, I think it was the perfect test for us ahead of the season. It was a real even game, with two high-quality sides who look to play.”
Next up for the Pirates is our first FAWNL Southern Premier Division match against AFC Wimbledon on Sunday 17th August.
You can also view our full fixture list here.
Lineup: Trialist, Warren, Stovold, Evans, Trialist, Biggadike, Bensted, Gaylor (Trialist 60’), Bryant, Grant, Byrom (Trialist 60’).
Loughborough Lightning 4-3 Real Bedford
Sunday 10th August 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Location: Loughborough University Stadium
