By Will Murray

Real Bedford Women secured back-to-back victories in all competitions, with a dominant 6-0 win against Billericay Town at the New Lodge. Sofia Stovold, Rhianne Rush, Leyla O’Brien, Chloe Logie, Jess Evans and Abbie Bensted scored the goals for the Pirates to give them six points from their first four games in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division.

Charlie Bill’s side dominated the first-half, despite Lucy Wood having to come off with a hamstring injury in the seventh minute.

The Pirates opened their account through Stovold, who headed home a Gemma Biggadike corner in the 12th minute. The captain’s delivery was headed goalwards by the central defender, and Tyree Bell was unable to keep it out.

After Logie came close with a header from six yards in the 19th minute, Rush doubled the lead three minutes later. The Thailand international brought the ball onto her left foot on the edge of the box and perfectly placed her effort into the bottom left corner.

O’Brien then made it three in the 25th minute, with a pinpoint free-kick from 20 yards. Her right-footed strike had Bell at full-stretch, but she was unable to reach the ball as it nestled into the top corner.

Issy Bryant, who replaced Wood in the seventh minute, threatened to get on the scoresheet and forced Bell into a smart save in the 27th minute. It was Logie with the fourth goal of the afternoon, though, as she tapped home a Biggadike free-kick, which was not dealt with by the Billericay defence.

There was time for one more before the break, with Evans scoring her first goal for the Pirates. Another Biggadike corner was headed home by the defender to give the Pirates a five-goal lead at half-time.

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Second Half

Despite an improved defensive display from the hosts in the second half, the Pirates continued to create opportunities, with Bryant and Stovold both coming close just before the hour mark.

O’Brien also came close to scoring her second free-kick of the afternoon, striking an effort narrowly wide in the 68th minute, before hitting the post from an almost identical position two minutes later.

It looked like the Pirates were going to be denied a goal in the second half, but Bensted had other ideas. In the 88th minute, after winning the ball back high, the number 10 fired a low strike into the bottom left corner to secure the second league win of the campaign.

In his post-match interview, Bill said:

“Yeah, really pleased, we spoke in the week about how important last weekend was to build that momentum.

I think that showed in the first half an hour. I thought we were incredibly ruthless, we dominated the ball and executed set-pieces that we needed to.”

Next up for the Pirates is a home game in the league against Oxford United on Sunday 21st September.

Lineup: Meollo, Byrom, Stovold, Evans, Williams (Tambula 82’), Biggadike (Hayes 72’), Rush (Gaylor 72’), O’Brien (Grant 72’), Bensted, Wood (Bryant 7’), Logie.

Billericay Town 0-6 Real Bedford
Sunday 14th September 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Location: New Lodge

The Pirates put 6 past Billericay to make it back-to-back victories

Real Bedford Women Player of the Month Nominees - August 2025