First against second in the league this afternoon as Real Bedford visited Rectory Park to face the current league leaders Actonians. A strong starting lineup for the home
side with Abigail, Amber and Jennie returning to the first eleven.

The game began with the first goal attempt being Hana’s 7th minute volley going wide of the target but with Storm Bert in full force it became difficult for both sides to play free-flowing football and therefore very few goal scoring chances were created through the first half. Real Bedford fired a couple of long range shots wide and the next Actonians goal attempt did not come until the 34th minute when Mara had a free kick from very far out saved. The best move of the half came in the 43rd minute with some good work from Hana on the right hand side. She squared the ball to Abigail whose shot was blocked. The dying seconds of the half included another Actonians free kick which Prudie hit on target but the keeper saved once again. Half time 0-0.

Changes were made 7 minutes after the break with Jas and Janaye replacing Abigail and Prudie. Fresh from scoring a brace for the Middlesex FA representative side midweek Jas made an immediate impact injecting some pace in the front line. Actonians had a claim for a penalty in the 62nd minute but the foul looked to have taken place just outside the 18 yard box. Hana smashed the free kick towards goal and the keeper tipped the ball onto the underside of the bar and somehow it did not bounce over the line. Another free kick was saved in the 72nd minute, this time Mara’s effort. Then in the 74th minute Real Bedford took the lead when a cross assisted by the strong wind was met by an away side attacker who smashed the ball home giving Elisa no chance. Hana had a shot saved 5 minutes later and in the last 10 minutes of normal time further changes were made with Khyri replacing Olivia and Camila replacing Kat. In added time the away goalkeeper showed the not nice side of football as Actonians searched for an equaliser. She made out that Amber had kicked her as she dived for the ball and got up very confrontational. Fortunately the officials had seen that Amber made no contact whatsoever and showed the keeper a yellow card. Sadly though that was the last action of the game. Full time 0-1.

A game that had a 1-0 scoreline written all over it as the minutes ticked by, which could have gone either way. Unfortunately it went in favour of the away side who have now overtaken Actonians at the summit of the table. Neither side had their best attacking day and from a Real Bedford point of view that was due to a strong Actonians backline. For this reason captain Mara is today’s player of the match. A week off for the first team next week before the last home game of 2024 when Cambridge United are the visitors.

Report by Neil Hayward.