After a tough 2024-25 season saw relegation, Bedford’s women are returning to National League, having dominated the Premier Division in 2025-26.
With three matches still to play, Bedford’s Ladies’ 1st XI are already guaranteed promotion following a 5-2 victory over Cambridge City on Saturday (28 February).
Whilst it was Cambridge who opened the scoring in Saturday’s fixture, three subsequent penalty corner conversions saw Bedford ahead at half-time with Bedford’s goals coming from Rachel Mason, Ellie Scott and Emma Pinny.
Early in the third quarter, Ellie Scott notched up her second with a goal from open play, before top goalscorer in the division, and player-coach for the team Kate Costin, took her season’s tally to 25 after stepping up to take a penalty stroke.
Whilst Cambridge snatched a second goal with just minutes to play, it was celebrations for Bedford as the final whistle blew.
The team has a home fixture this coming Saturday (7 March), with a 2pm push-back against third in the table Bishop’s Stortford. Spectators are always welcome at the Chester Road ground.
It was a thrilling match for the home crowd to watch, when the Men’s 1st XI stepped out on pitch to take on Cambridge South.
The scores remained 0-0 going into the second quarter, but it was Cambridge who were first to find the back of the net through a converted penalty corner.
Just five minutes later, Cambridge doubled their lead from another penalty corner.
Going forward to the second half of the match, Bedford staged a comeback; a goal by Finn Lever from open play, followed by one by Jack Bellamy, drawing the scores even.
Cambridge took the lead once more in the 60th minute, converting another penalty corner, before Dave Appleton levelled the scores from a penalty corner to Bedford.
Just as it looked as though the match would end in a draw, in the final minute, Cambridge were awarded yet another penalty corner, finding the back of the net to take the win.
The squad travel away to Cambridge University’s 1st XI this coming Saturday.
Across the club’s other teams, there was a 2-1 loss for the Ladies’ 2nd XI against Blueharts and an agonising 6-0 loss for the Men’s 2nd XI against Luton.
The Ladies’ 3rd XI had a double header, beginning with a 3-3 draw on Saturday against Luton, as two goals from Cheryll Wilson and one for Tilly Sheldon led the way for Bedford.
A 3-1 win on Sunday away to Blueharts capped a decent weekend for the team, while the Men’s 3rd XI secured an excellent 4-2 win over Welwyn Garden City on Saturday.
There was just one consolation goal by Emma Cook for the Ladies’ 4th XI, going 5-1 down to Blueharts, while the Men drew away to Rickmansworth, with goals for Elliot Potter and Adam O’Neill.
The Ladies’ 5th XI fell 2-0 away to Letchworth, but there was a win for the top of the table Men. Goals from James Logan, Tony Gammon, Harry Bowden and Keith Sohl gave them the points over Potters Bar.
Despite many presses into the attacking ‘D’, by the Ladies’ 6th XI against Blueharts, only one struck by Manpriya Sira found the target in the closing minutes of the match. Blueharts, meanwhile, netted four.
There was also a 4-1 loss for the men away to Welwyn Garden City.
There was a bye weekend for the Ladies’ 7th XI and a walkover for the Men after their opponents were unable to field a team. Both will be back in action this coming weekend.
Words by Jean Fitch
