Real Bedford Women Go Top of FAWNL Cup Group with Norwich Win
By Will Murray
Real Bedford went three points clear at the top of Group L in the FAWNL Cup, thanks to a 2-0 win against Norwich City at the Ledger Stadium. Chloe Logie and Issy Bryant scored the goals for the Pirates.
Nina Meollo, who was announced on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town on Saturday, started her first game for the club and impressed with a clean sheet. The Philippines international made a pair of important stops in the first 10 minutes and reassured the backline by confidently dealing with an early flurry of set-pieces delivered by the visitors.
The Pirates found their stride after the first 10 minutes, coming close through Leyla O’Brien, who hit the side netting in the 13th minute.
After a period of pressure, Charlie Bill’s side went into the lead in the 25th minute through Logie. O’Brien’s cross from the right wing was not dealt with by the Norwich defence, and Logie was there to score from close range.
Lucy Wood and O’Brien had further chances to double the lead, but Holly Mears made a pair of smart stops to keep the deficit at one.
Norwich came close to levelling just before the break, with Lara Densley’s effort from a Lauren Hailes free-kick narrowly missing the target.
Second Half
It was an eventful start to the second half, with the Canaries hitting the crossbar through Grace Riglar. From this defensive scare, the Pirates broke forward and sent through Logie, who saw her right-footed effort go inches wide of the right post.
Chances for both teams kept on coming, with Gemma Biggadike’s corner in the 55th minute hitting the crossbar. The captain’s set pieces were pinpoint throughout the afternoon, with Sofia Stovold and substitute Bryant both coming close from her deliveries in the closing stages.
With the Canaries pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Bryant put the game to bed in the 89th minute. A low cross from Breon Grant eventually found Logie, who laid the ball back to Bryant, with her right-footed effort finding a way past Mears.
The result puts the Pirates three points clear of Norwich and Cambridge United in Group L of the FAWNL Cup. A draw in the final group stage game against Peterborough United on Sunday 28th September will mean we advance to the next stage of the competition.
In his post-match interview, Bill said:
“It was a really professional performance. I thought the attacking unit showed really good moments of quality, which we hammered down from last week.
Defensively, there was a lot of long, direct stuff to deal with, and I thought we won the first contacts well. I’m walking away pleased, with two wins out of two in the cup.”
Next up for the Pirates is an away game in the league against Billericay Town on Sunday 14th September.
Lineup: Meollo, Byrom, Stovold, Evans, Williams, Biggadike, Hayes (Rush 67’), O’Brien (Grant 77’), Bensted (Smith 90+1), Wood (Bryant 77’), Logie.
Unused subs: Tambula, Gaylor.
Real Bedford 2-0 Norwich City
Sunday 7th September 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
