Real Bedford (A) Matchday Blog
On Sunday Pompey Women made their way to The Ledger Stadium to take on Real Bedford. A new ground and a new opposition for the club and fans.
Real Bedford were formally known as Bedford Girls and Ladies before their take over and rebranding by bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack in 2023. This is their second season in Tier 3 since promotion. The Ledger Stadium is situated just off the A421 and shares a plot of land with Bedford Town.
The stadium is very easy to find and there are sizeable car parks on site which service both clubs. We were greeted by friendly staff and made
our way through the turnstiles. It was great to see a fully fledged printed programme!
The stadium is a modern, very modest one. There were stands with seating along one side and a small terrace on another. You could also stand behind the goals if you wished.
There was a lot to like here, freedom to move around, a grass area behind the goals where a group of kids in both Pompey and Real Bedford shirts played football and no WSL2 jobsworth stewards telling you that you're breathing wrong.
They had everything you needed. A bar with inside seating, a food stall and an outside seating area near to the pitch. The quality of the pitch was outstanding, it's clear the club take great pride in their pitch and I tip my hat to them.
Pompey were favourites going into the game and they will be for pretty much all their league games this season, a burden they will need to learn to bear. Pompey were 2 wins from 3 in the league and Real Bedford 1 win from their first 3 games.
The game kicked off and we made our way behind the goal Pompey were attacking. Early observations were that the Real Bedford keeper was decent, they were going to be physical and that their game plan was to catch us on the counter attack. I feel like this is going to be a very common theme this season.
The patterns of play settled quite quickly. Pompey would attack, Real Bedford would clear and try to break. Neither side really threatened in the first 30mins. Real Bedford had a couple of pot-shots which Cull saved easily. Rowbotham and Suttie were excellent, most of Real Bedford's play was central and they dealt with any danger well.
In the final stages of the half Pompey carved out a couple of clear opportunities but Ware and Beattie couldn't convert. I think the referee and assistant referee might have got a new whistle and flag set for their birthdays before they certainly liked using them.
At half time I said to those around me there is only two ways this game would end. 1-0 to Real Bedford if they catch us on the break before parking the bus, or 2-0 Pompey.
The second half kicked off and their was a notable increase in Pompey's tempo. We were attacking with a bit more intent and speed. It needed to be a team effort, Real Bedford were good at getting playing behind the ball and were doubling up on our wingers to prevent crosses. Some good overlapping runs especially from Bull down the right was helping to overcome this.
Pompey were throwing everything at goal with their keeper making some good saves especially one to a long range effort from Suttie. Pompey went close again when Rowbotham just missed out at the back post (pictured above) and Beattie's long range effort smashed into the bar (pictured below). I think that's the 3rd time she has hit the woodwork in 2 games.
Pompey finally made the breakthrough in the 63rd minute, a cross came in from the right which Real Bedford failed to clear and Sofia Mallon poked home. It took an age to crawl over the line but the relief was palpable.
Pompey did the right thing and stayed on the front foot. Real Bedford didn't really change their approach much after the goal. In the 84th min Barrett sealed the 3 points with a rocket from the edge of the box. Barrett is a master at getting you a goal out of nothing and players like that are so important in tight games.
Pompey saw the game out comfortably and notched up their 4th clean sheet in 6 games. I feel the backline is starting to settle now. Cull in goal especially has looked more assured as she gets some games for the club under her belt and did well the few times she was called upon today.
Real Bedford did a few things I really liked. A fully printed programme, a modern tidy stadium and good facilities provided a good match day experience.
Advance ticket purchase did require you to sign up to their website and download their app. Normally I hate this kind of thing, as an away fan it's tedious signing up to multiple clubs. However I was very impressed with their Real Bedford app. It included full separate sections for men's and women's team, as well as a live match centre which included a full match video feed with features like a dug out cam. The question has to be asked, if Real Bedford can do it, why can't bigger clubs like Pompey? We have a lot of supporters who can't make games, this sort of thing would make the women's team accessible to them. I feel this will be a popular question at the upcoming Supporters Club meeting.
5 wins in 5 for Jay's new look squad now. Pompey now face a Lewes home double header. They will face them in the League Cup next Sunday at the John Jenkins and then the following Sunday will play them again at Fratton Park in the League.
