MATCH REPORT: Real Bedford Women 3-2 Derby County Women

Derby County Women were downed 3-2 at Real Bedford as they exited the FA Women’s National League Cup in the Round of 32 stage.

Sam Griffiths’ side executed a perfect group stage, with three wins from three matches against Notts County, Lincoln United and Sheffield FC and 12 goals scored, but Real Bedford, who currently sit third in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, edged them out of the competition in a five-goal thriller.

Amber Gaylor’s early strike gave Bedford the advantage, before goals from Becky May and Chenè Muir saw Griffiths’ charges ahead at the break.

Issy Bryant levelled the game for the hosts with a long-range goal before Gaylor hit the winner from a free-kick with 73 minutes played.

Key Moments

The hosts took the lead, controversially, inside four minutes through Gaylor, who beat goalkeeper Harriet Wayne at her near post following a corner routine - with the goal given despite Derby's appeals as to whether the ball had crossed the goal line.

Derby’s first chance of the game came in the 12th minute, when Minnie Wilson’s long-range shot took a deflection before being gathered by home goalkeeper Erica Meale.

May then went close from a free-kick, shooting just over the crossbar from a position just ahead of the centre circle, before her corner was headed off target at the back post by defender Hannah Ward.

Having already caused all sorts of problems for the Pirates’ defence, May drew the Ewes level in the 18th minute. The midfielder's effort from distance was driven into the bottom corner in emphatic style as she netted her 10th goal for the club.

Bedford came close to retaking the lead four minutes later, but Nicola Puddick’s cross was headed wide of the far post.

After some good work from Jess Melrose down the right, Ella Bryan’s effort flew wide in the 28th minute. Then Muir had a go from 20 yards, but her shot was caught comfortably by Meale.

A few minutes later, Muir gave Derby the lead by getting on the end of Melrose’s low cross and muscling her defender away to turn the ball into the bottom-left corner.

As the first half drew to a close, a flurry of Bedford corners saw the hosts pile on the pressure. But, fortunately for the Ewes, this culminated with a shot flying over Wayne’s crossbar.

It took ten minutes for the first real chance of the second half to come. Ward launched a perfectly weighted ball over the top for Ché Thomas in the inside-right, but she was denied from a tight angle by a strong save from the Meale. Thomas soon found herself through on goal again, but the goalkeeper stood strong.

Bedford had multiple chances down their own right-hand side with Bryant forcing two firm stops from Wayne, who then saved a powerful free-kick just after the hour mark.

The hosts drew level when Bryant blasted the ball into the top-left corner from distance, leaving Wayne with no chance.

And they would find themselves in front once more in the 73rd minute, when Gaylor struck a free-kick low into the wall from 25 yards, which deflected past Wayne and into the far corner.

The Ewes continued to push for an equaliser in the closing stages, with a number of deep free-kicks launched into the box, but they could not find the decisive blow.

Derby will look to bounce back when they travel to Coventry Sphinx Ladies in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup First Round on Sunday 26th October (2pm kick off).

Derby County Women: Wayne (GK), Melrose, Mason, Wildgoose, Thomas (Stevens 64), Joyce (C), Bryan (Sparkes 78), Ward, Wilson, May (Edwards 64), Muir (Wheeler 68).

Unused Substitutes: Jones (GK), Morgan (GK), Shepherd.