QPR FC Women (0) – Real Bedford Ladies (2)     

FA Women’s National League Division One (South-East) 

Team: Wiggins, Hennessy, Searle, Hill, Blodgett, Lewin, Ward-Chambers, Munro, Stanley, Goddard, McCrea 

Subs: Curr, Owen, Brooks, Kennedy, Hoile 

On an extremely hot afternoon at the Matrade Loftus Road Stadium, it was the home side who forced Darcy Buy into making a save at the near-post, and the ball went for a corner. 

At the other end, after 15 minutes, Chiara Meola curled her shot just wide of the upright.  

Georgie Lewin’s header from Laura Hennessy’s corner was well-saved by the Pirates keeper. 

Play was halted to enable the players to take a much-needed drinks break, and the game then re-started with a corner. 

Just after the half-hour mark, Laura Hennessy went down in need of some attention. 

After 37 minutes, Abbie Bensted’s angled strike was blocked and the ball went behind for a corner. 

Four minutes into added time, Courtnay Ward-Chambers let fly from 25-yards, only to see the ball bounce off the crossbar. Ms Scott blew for half-time two minutes later. 

During the interval, I and many others, decided to move from the West Paddock to the shaded Lower School End. 

Into the second-half, and Renai McCrea produced a superb tackle close to the bye-line, and the ball then went for a throw-in. 

Two changes were made after 52 minutes, which saw the introduction of new signing, Billie Brooks, and Stevie Kennedy, at the expense of Grace Stanley and Ashleigh Goddard respectively.  

Emily Hill had moved into a forward role, and her shot from 20-odd yards curled away from the target. 

Earlier, the R’s players had appealed for a penalty, after Laura Hennessy was seemingly impeded at the back-post. 

The next change came on 69 minutes when Alice Curr replaced Alana Munro. 

Real Bedford could well have taken the lead after the ball had been given away, but the attempt went wide of the far-post. 

Then, Chrissie Wiggins went down to smother a low-strike at goal.  

The Pirates took the lead after 81 minutes through Laura Mitchell’s low-shot from close range. 

On 85 minutes, Paige Hoile and Izzy Owen came on for Emily Hill, and Renai McCrea. 

The visitors doubled their lead minutes from the end after substitute, Alex Dicks, took advantage of a miss-hit goal-kick. 

Danny Harrigan’s side then travelled to Rectory Park to face Actonians. 

Steve Russell