Image: Real Bedford FC
Real Bedford Women fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Hashtag United Women on Sunday (2 November); the result ending Bedford’s good run and giving Hashtag an important three points in their fight to climb the Southern Premier Division table.
Kick off was delayed by ten minutes due to a kit clash; something many felt could have been avoided, but once play began, Hashtag started strong.
Hashtag’s captain, Flo Jackson forced an early save from Bedford keeper Nina Meollo, but the Pirates responded through striker Breon Grant, who fired just wide.
The Tags looked sharp from the start and took the lead in the 22nd minute after a misplaced short goal kick from Bedford was intercepted, and Honor Norton was quickest to react, calmly finishing past Meollo to make it 1-0.
Bedford worked hard to find a reply, with Issy Bryant and Abbie Bensted both testing the Hashtag keeper.
Just before half time, Bryant thought she had scored an equaliser, but the goal was controversially ruled out for offside, a decision that frustrated the home side.
Hashtag made the perfect start to the second half when, in the 47th minute, Charlotte Kellett doubled the lead with an excellent finish from distance, lobbing Meollo in the Pirates goal.
From there, Bedford tried to push forward. Head coach, Charlie Bill looked to create a response with several changes as Chloe Logie, Sophie Byrom, and Milly Hayes came on in the 62nd minute.
Grant came close again on 65 minutes, shooting narrowly wide. Returning from injury were Hannah Warren and Lucy Wood who were introduced later to try and spark and comeback.
Meollo made several good saves to keep the Pirates in the game, but Hashtag almost made it three when they hit the crossbar in the 89th minute with a free kick from 30 yards out, but the score stayed 2-0 to the visitors.
Despite the late pressure and plenty of effort from the Pirates, they couldn’t find a breakthrough as Hashtag United took home a deserved win thanks to goals from Norton and Kellett.
Real Bedford will look to return to winning ways when they face Burnley in the last 16 of the Women’s National League Cup on Sunday, 9 November.
“No easy games at tier three”
Real’s head coach, Charlie Bill described it as a “really disappointing day at the office”.
“We were nowhere near our levels today, and it was quite a poor showing that we’re disappointed with.
“Credit to Hashtag, they’re an intense and impressive side and we knew what we were going to face. There’s no easy games at tier three and I think that showed today in terms of the levels that Hashtag kept up.
“We conceded a couple of soft goals too, but we were also a bit tired at the end of a difficult week, especially with the efforts we put in on Wednesday [during Real’s 1-1 draw at Watford] and our intensity levels were not there today.
“If you’re not at your levels at tier three, you’ll get punished”, added Bill.
