Real Bedford Women finished their 2025 home fixtures in style with a strong 5-1 win over AFC Wimbledon at the Ledger Stadium on Sunday (7 December).
The Pirates came into the match fourth in the Women’s National League Southern Premier table with 16 points, while the Dons arrived in 10th on 11 points. Despite the wet conditions, both sides created chances, but Bedford were sharper, faster and more clinical throughout.
The Pirates made the perfect start.
Within two minutes, Issy Bryant struck the post, and debutant Melis Mehmet reacted quickest to score her first goal for the club to give Bedford an early 1-0 lead.
Bedford kept the pressure on, and in the 13th minute, Sophie Byrom found the net from a corner, but the flag went up for offside in what looked like a tight call.
Wimbledon then grew into the game.
Captain, Ashlee Hincks tested goalkeeper Erica Meale, who produced a series of important saves. However, Bedford struck again in the 23rd minute when Leyla O’Brien raced down the wing and set up Bryant for an easy tap-in to make it 2-0.
Wimbledon responded well and were rewarded in the 37th minute.
Meale saved the first effort from Daisy McLachlan, but Alisha Buckingham followed in to score, pulling the Dons back to 2-1.
Bedford nearly restored their two-goal lead before the break when O’Brien rounded the keeper, but Wimbledon defended well on the line.
Bryant completes hat trick
The second half began with both sides pushing forward.
Hincks sent an early shot wide for Wimbledon, while Bedford continued to create chances through O’Brien and Abbie Bensted.
In the 60th minute, Bensted was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. Issy Bryant stepped up and converted from the spot to extend the lead to 3-1.
Substitute, Breon Grant added energy to the Pirates’ attack, and Bedford continued to create opportunities. In the 78th minute, a swift move saw Byrom set up Bryant, who struck home to complete her hat trick and make it 4-1.
Late on, Wimbledon were reduced to ten players when Kelly-Jade Whelan was shown a red card in stoppage time.
Bedford took advantage immediately. A shot from Bensted was saved, but substitute Chloe Logie pounced on the rebound and smashed in Bedford’s fifth goal in the 95th minute.
The final whistle confirmed a dominant 5-1 win for Real Bedford, strengthening their position towards the top of the league, although they are seven points behind the pace setters, Bournemouth and Watford.
“The hunger has been building”
Manager, Charlie Bill said his team deservedly gained the three points, and spoke about how his players prepared for the game amidst a series of postponements and free weeks.
“Because it has been so long, week after week, that hunger has been building, but we’ve been working incredibly hard behind the scenes and working them tough.
“We wanted to show the intensity from minute one today, and ultimately that’s what we did and deservedly got the three points.
“We had a behind closed doors friendly against Stevenage, and we worked on a bit of a culture shift. Not that anything was wrong, but its a good time to reset, we were looking at different pictures and everyone had an opportunity.
“And as you saw today, some of those opportunities were taken. Mills was superb, so was Byrom in wide areas. And we looked at Bryant in the number nine, and she scored three goals, so we ticked a lot of boxes!”
Real Bedford now turn their attention to their final match of 2025, taking place on Sunday 21 December as they travel away to face Plymouth Argyle.
