A crowd of 211 were in attendance at McMullen Park on Sunday as Real Bedford Ladies opened their Eastern Region Women’s Football League season with an impressive 4-1 victory against Stevenage.
Two Gemma Croucher penalties plus goals from Tash Fensome and Neve Mayes secured the win on the opening day of the season while Lilia Dempsey scored a consolation goal for the visitors.
Emily Schofield’s red card rubbed salt into the wounds for the visitors – gifting Croucher her second penalty in the process – as Real cantered home to an impressive victory.
Perhaps the most impressive stat of the day however was an attendance of over 200 at McMullen Park, with women’s football front and centre of the psyche of fans with England’s World Cup semi-final against Australia to come on Wednesday.
Their next fixture is at Creasey Park against AFC Dunstable, a side who lost their first game of the season 5-0 at Barking.
Cockfosters penalty gains parity
The day before, the Men’s side were looking to build on an opening day victory against Milton Keynes Irish in the Spartans South Midlands Premier Division but could only gain a 1-1 draw at Cockfosters.
Read: Real Bedford open new season with tight Irish win
Joey Evans gave the Pirates the lead following smart work from Josh Setchell down the right wing but moments later, Real defender Tom Wood had fouled George Sippetts in the Bedford area. Matty Thomson converted the penalty.
Chances came and went for both sides, with Real’s Ben Stevens hitting the post as well as having another effort cleared off the line but it was late into the second half when the controversial moment came.
Mo Ahmed had raced clear only to be scythed down in the area, but the referee waved away the claims, much to the derision of the Real bench and with no more time for another clear cut chance, the game ended one apiece.
The action keeps coming for Real as they face an FA Cup replay against FC Clacton at McMullen Park on Tuesday night.
Tickets for the game can be purchased here.
