Bedford Ladies travelled to south west London on Saturday to face Wimbledon as the bottom two in the Investec East Conference went head to head at King's College School Sports Ground.
Wimbledon won their opening day fixture at home to Ipswich but lost each subsequent game where as newly promoted Bedford were still searching for their first win. Bedford named only one change from last week's squad with Becky Childs coming in for Nicola Pether, however Clare Beattie was a last minute withdrawal from the team with illness.
The Maroons made a strong start, pressing the Dons defence from the outset with balls out of the defence aggressively intercepted by Becky Childs and Charlotte Holland in the Bedford midfield. Kate Costin flashed a reverse stick ball across the goal which narrowly evaded Kelly Bingham at the back post but Bedford did convert in the third minute as Childs won the ball before feeding a pass into the circle which Costin was able to take around the keeper before slotting home on her reverse.
Bedford continued to pile on the pressure and after good combination play from Verity Mason-McLeod and youngster Kate Axford, captain Sherri Skene was able to draw a foul and win a corner which was repelled by the Wimbledon defence.
The visitors were moving the ball well but on a bouncy pitch, the ball was often turned over by both sides. Midway through the half, Wimbledon started to edge back into the contest with some accurate fizzing passes reaching their forwards and some skilful runs from their wide players. They found the net when a hopeful crash ball into the circle got a touch from a Wimbledon forward which evaded both Rachel Jackson and goalkeeper Leanne Sargent.
Into the second half and Bedford knew they needed to step up their intensity and passing quality further. Again they started to dominate possession and control the game, playing some neat hockey with patient one and two touch passing with Rachel Jackson, Katherine Winger and Beth Noble all composed on the ball. Bedford were stepping up to intercept 50-50s whilst Emma Pinny and SJ Darrington won numerous tackles which combined to help the visitors deservedly get their noses back in front when a classy pass from Winger found Costin in the circle and her fierce reverse stick effort could only be blocked by the keeper. Kelly Bingham was lightning quick to pounce on the loose ball and poke it home.
The Maroons were on the receiving end of some industrial challenges from the Wombles but they went unpunished by the umpires. Then, as the game wore on, Wimbledon pressed forward with a barrage of short corners which Sargeant deal with very well until she was helpless to stop the unfortunate Bedford captain Sherri Skene putting the ball into her own net to bring the scores level.
Bedford broke through again with a skilful run from Holland but with Skene and Costin lurking on the posts the chance was snuffed out by the Dons keeper. Into the final two minutes and it was heartbreak for Bedford with a corner awarded in a baffling decision and then cruelly, given Bedford's display, it was converted on the rebound to put Wimbledon in front for the first time.
Still Bedford had one last chance from a penalty corner as the final whistle blew but their drag flick was turned around the post leaving the team hugely disappointed that from a winning position, they hadn't got anything from the game.
Bedford will be looking to make amends next Saturday when they host Harleston, push back at 1pm at Chester Road.
0 comments:
Post a Comment