Real Bedford Ladies 5-0 AFC Dunstable Ladies
Real Bedford Ladies 5-0 AFC Dunstable Ladies
Bedfordshire Women’s Cup Final
Wednesday 8th May 2024
Lady luck was against AFC Dunstable Ladies as they put up a valiant performance against comprehensive ERWFL Premier Division winners Real Bedford Ladies in the Bedfordshire Women’s Cup Final at Kempston Rovers on Wednesday.
AFC were the underdogs going into the game but after seeing off Biggleswade United and Luton Town in previous rounds they thoroughly deserved to make the final and had it not been for the woodwork, which they hit three times in the game and a harsh decision for opening goal going against them the scoreline could have been different.
The OD’s started brightly and were unlucky not to open the scoring in the opening minutes when Hayley Smith skimmed the outside of the post with a fine effort.
Haile Richards almost capitalised on a mistake at the back by Real Bedford in the 14th minute but just couldn’t find the back of the net from a tight angle.
The league winners took advantage three minutes later when Tash Fensome scored from close range despite the protests from many that a player had come back from an offside position in the build up.
AFC’s Poppy Surridge had an effort on goal just after the quarter mark of the game, which was easily gathered by Destiny Papp but more frustration came when Richards hit a superb 20 yard strike against the crossbar soon after.
Things just weren’t going the OD’s way and the Pirates again made the most of their opponent’s misfortune when Fensome scored her second and the best goal of the game, hitting a dipping strike from range to beat Tyrii Bell in the 38th minute.
AFC came out for the second half with a fighting spirit and had the ball in the net when Sian Morris went through on goal, finishing well, but she was ruled offside.
Three minutes later, against the run of play Amber Smith heaped more pain on AFC when she dispossessed a sky blues defender and her shot gave Bell no chance, scoring their third.
Bell pulled off a great save on the hour mark to deny Real Bedford a fourth as Ruby Powell was then cautioned as she became frustrated with the way the game was going.
AFC came close again to getting on the scoresheet when the bar was struck again, this time by Ella Rothwell’s header with 12 minutes to go.
To add insult to injury, Real Bedford scored two very late goals when Lisa Milliken’s shot took a deflection past Bell in the 89th minute then Lauren Coppin set up Erin Price to finish with a first time shot in added on time.
AFC should have had a penalty soon after when Richards was taken out from behind in the box but nothing was going their way as a corner was given instead.
The two late goals took the shine off a very good, hardworking performance from AFC, who on another night could have possibly upset the form book.
Team: Bell; Cook; James; Robb (Nellis 71′); Miller; Smith (Rothwell 57′); Tambula; Ingram (Whitburn 39′): Richards; Knox (Morris 39′); Surridge (Powell 57′).
