Bedford currently sit bottom of the East Conference without a win from their opening 5 games of the season. Last week, Bedford twice went in front away against Wimbledon but the Dons came back to win with a contentious last minute penalty corner strike which left the maroons squad bitterly disappointed. Bedford will be eager to bounce back and get some points on the board but the Magpies will prove a tough test and are a very experienced side, having won the league in 2012/13. Last weekend Magpies continued their positive home record with a comfortable 4-0 win against Chelmsford moving them up to 3rd place in the league.

Last season Bedford were in the East Premier and played Magpies 2’s twice before Christmas. In the first game on opening day, Bedford came away with all 3 points with a comfortable 4-1 win however just before the Christmas break it was a much closer encounter and Bedford needed a heroic brace from Yvette Van Yperen in the last few minutes to seal a season changing 2-1 victory.

Bedford welcome back Clare Beattie to the squad after illness last week but are without Kate Axford so the squad is from: Leanne Sargeant, Rachel Jackson, SJ Darrington, Emma Pinny, Beth Noble, Becky Childs, Verity Mason-McLeod, Katherine Winger, Sherri Skene (capt), Charlotte Holland, Louise Beechener, Kate Costin