Real Bedford Women Suffer Pre-Season Defeat at Derby
By Will Murray
Real Bedford Women lost 4-1 to Derby County Women in their fourth pre-season test ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. The hosts scored three second half goals to take the game away from the Pirates at the Don Amott Arena, following Abbie Bensted’s equaliser in the 40th minute.
Derby, who finished ninth in the FAWNL Northern Premier Division last season, were ahead after only three minutes. The trialist goalkeeper was dispossessed by the Rams’ number four 30 yards away from goal, and she calmly passed the ball into the back of the net.
Seven minutes later, Nicola Puddick was fouled by a Derby player after a forward run. The left-back fell awkwardly and was forced to be substituted, with the extent of her injury unknown.
The Pirates created a number of chances in the first-half and came closest to scoring in the 21st minute through Breon Grant. A long ball was flicked on by Leyla O’Brien to the striker, who was unable to fire past the goalkeeper.
Grant continued to cause problems in behind for the Derby defence and was rewarded in the 40th minute when she assisted Bensted for the equaliser. The number nine was picked out by a ball from the trialist defender and found the Pirates’ number 10, who fired home from inside the box.
Second Half
After the break, Lucy Wood looked the most likely to put the Pirates in front, seeing two efforts well saved by the Derby goalkeeper within the first 10 minutes.
On the hour mark, the hosts were ahead, though, when a corner was flicked on by Derby’s number 11 at the front post.
Grant and Amber Gaylor nearly responded with efforts that narrowly missed the target minutes after Derby’s second, but the Pirates were unable to find a way through the Rams’ backline.
In the 67th minute, the lead was extended through Derby’s number 22. Her right-footed effort found the bottom right corner after a period of pressure from Real Bedford Women.
Sophie Byrom, who was introduced midway through the second half, was lively during her cameo and had chances to halve the deficit. She was unable to find the target, though, with a Derby defender making an impressive block to deny her in the 78th minute.
There was time for one more Derby goal, and it came in the 84th minute. A cross from the hosts’ nine was nearly cleared off the line by Jess Evans, but eventually found the back of the net.
After the match, Bill said:
“It is a bit of a reality check for us in terms of, we haven’t played a lot of tier three teams and opposition.
In terms of the balance of the game, I thought it was really even. Unfortunately, you can’t give those soft goals away that we did as a collective.”
Next up for the Pirates is our last pre-season match against Loughborough Lightning on Sunday 10th August.
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, Stovold, Evans, Puddick, Hayes, Rush, O’Brien, Bensted, Wood, Grant.
Substitutes: Bryant, Gaylor 46’, Byrom 65’, Trialist 80’.
Derby County 4-1 Real Bedford
Saturday 3rd August 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Location: Don Amott Arena
