Bedford went into their second league game with a few squad changes due to unavailability and both Rebecca Downing-Holmes and Cheryll Wilson made their first team league debuts. Rebecca Budd remained side-lined through injury. Wapping started the game brightly, full of energy, commitment and endeavour with goalkeeper Leanne Sargeant having to be alert to clear a shot off the line inside the game’s opening minutes.

Bedford were struggling with their basics and lacked composure on the ball for large spells of the match with a uncharacteristic high number of turnovers in possession. After weathering a spell of early pressure from the home side, Bedford began to threaten themselves on break with a couple of penalty corners of their own. Player of the Match Leanne Sargeant was excelling in the Bedford goal and was at her best to deny Wapping not once but twice from the penalty spot after a foot on the line. Sargeant saved the first effort but was adjudged to have come off her line so the stroke was retaken and again Sargeant guessed right and made a replica diving save to her right!! It wasn’t long however before Wapping did make a breakthrough with a short corner deflection but Bedford were soon able to peg them back with a set piece of their own; captain Rachel Jackson slapping the ball to Kate Costin for the deflection and the scores remained 1-1 until the break.

The game continued to ebb and flow in the second half. Wapping were really up for the game and retook the lead early in the second half. Bedford now created opportunities of their own with the Wapping keeper thwarting Andrea Mason, Rachel Jackson and Charlotte Holland. In the game’s final exchanges Bedford stepped up their levels desperate to get back on level terms with the press now becoming a much more effective weapon and when the ball fell to Downing-Holmes on the edge of the circle, she spotted Pippa Jones on the back post and the BMS schoolgirl tucked home her second goal in two games. Momentum shifted and it was Bedford who could have conceivably snatched the victory but two late corners were opportunities missed and instead Wapping went down the other end and gained their own corner which signalled the end of the game. Wapping went to the right off the top of the circle and converted at the back post past Sargeant, whose performance was not deserving of being on the losing side.

Bedford will now need to refocus quickly ahead of next Saturday’s home game (1pm push back vs Maidstone) looking to quickly get back to winning ways.