After second in the East Women’s Premier Division, Cambridge City, suffered a loss in their fixture at the weekend, Bedford Ladies’ 1st XI stretched their lead at the top to seven points thanks to a 4-0 win away to Bury St Edmunds.
Kate Costin opened the scoring, at the close of the first quarter.
The second goal came on the 33rd minute; Robyn Deal finding the back of the net from open play. Ellie Scott bagged the third, through a converted penalty corner, before Deal grabbed her second as the final whistle approached.
The squad have a week’s break now, before returning on the 21 February, when they host Upminster with a 2pm push-back. Spectators always welcome at the Chester Road home ground, with free parking and free entry.
Bella Holt took the Ladies’ 2nd XI into the lead ten minutes into their match, but their Havering opponents levelled the score just minutes later. The remainder of the match played out with no further goals to either team.
This coming Saturday will see the team play their previously weather-hit fixture against Letchworth, with Bedford having the home advantage.
Finding themselves in the same division this season, the Ladies’ 3rd and 4th teams were pitted against each other.
It was a competitive match, with players’ player for the 4th XI, keeper Megan Evans, putting in a particularly notable performance.
Despite a consolation goal by Alice Brady-White for the 4th XI, it was the 3rdXI who dominated as four goals for Tilly Sheldon secured them the points.
The Ladies’ 5th XI had a very long drive to Cheshunt only to be informed on arrival that their match was abandoned due to a flooded pitch.
A goal by Charlotte Goodson took the Ladies’ 6th XI into an early lead over Broxbourne, before Broxbourne managed to equalise as the half-time whistle approached.
After end-to-end action, it was Bedford who clinched the victory, when a strong penalty corner strike from the top of the circle by Manpriya Sira flew past the Broxbourne keeper with ten minutes left to play.
Players’ Player votes went to Jess Leach.
It was a tough day at the office for the Men’s 1st XI, despite the support of the home crowd.
Bedford had chances on goal and penalty corner expert, Richard Evans once again planted a successful conversion. It was their Old Loughtonians opponents who dominated, however, the match finishing with Bedford 5-1 down.
The squad’s next action is against Blueharts on Friday 13 February.
Adam Priston opened the scoring for the Men’s 2nd XI ten minutes into the match, but St Albans quickly equalised.
St Albans went into the lead from a penalty corner on the 51st minute and, just as it looked like they would walk away with the win, a second Priston goal saved the day with a minute to the close of play.
The Men’s 3rd XI secured a 2-1 victory over Royston, Royston only managing a consolation goal in the 50th minute.
There was also a win for the Men’s 4th XI away to Southgate Adelaide, the match winning goals in the 3-2 win coming from a penalty corner goal by Adam O’Neill and two goals from open play by Richard Fromow.
As with the Ladies’ 3rd and 4th XIs, the Men’s 5th and 6th teams find themselves in the same division and got to battle it out together at the weekend.
With the 5th XI sitting top of the table and the 6th XI in ninth spot, it looked as though the 6th XI were in for a tough ride, especially as James Pagliaro opened the scoring for the 5th’s just two minutes into the match.
Credit goes to the 6th XI, however, for keeping their heads.
Not to be outdone by his daughter’s match-winning goal for the Ladies’ 6th XI, Sandeep Sira brought the scores level, before a goal apiece, within a minute of each other, by Keith Sohl for the 5th’s and Harry Bennett for the 6th XI, ended the match in a 2-2 stalemate.
It was a forceful performance for the Men’s 7th XI, as goals by Zameer Safdar (2), Keith Waterhouse, Jon Chard, Paul da Silva and Andrew Moore gave the team a 6-0 victory over St Albans.
Words by Jean Fitch
