The weather as it turned out wasn't that bad and the run down to Bedford Ladies home at the Wootton Blue Cross stadium straight forwards. Not much above freezing the sun had enough in it to clear any frost from the morning, the pitch on 1st inspection looked in great condition for the time of year. A County Cup always represents a great chance for a club to challenge for some silverware and Bedford Ladies are the current holders of the trophy having beaten Luton Town Ladies on penalties last season having played out a 2-2 draw.
Both Bedford Ladies and AFC Dunstable Ladies are two of the big guns in women's football in Bedfordshire and received a bye in the competition until the quarter final stage where they were drawn out of the hat to face each other. Both teams have a similar story in that they were both promoted last season. Bedford Ladies winning the ERWFL Premier Division to go up into the FAWPL South East Division One, with AFC Dunstable Ladies coming up into the ERWFL Premier Division having won the ERWFL Division One South last season.
Has been a case for both of trying to establish themselves in their new leagues and both have picked up points over recent games. The County Cup quarter final then represented a great chance for both to go for some silverware. My first visit to Wootton Blue Cross the stadium is set off the street in a residentual area with good facilties and social club, some covered seating along one side. I thought kick off was at 1:30, but it was actually 2pm still at least I was nice and early for a change.
Bedford Ladies starting XI - Katie Upton, Shannon Carroll, Sophie Britton, Suzie Darby, Charlotte Burton, Chloe Scott, Maisie Wyatt, Natasha Fensome (C), Chelsea Hunter, Rebecca Vass & Eden Washington.
subs - Ella Meadowcroft, Holly Venn, Antonia Mitchell.
AFC Dunstable Ladies starting XI - Gemma Fisher, Elly Wade, Lauren Chimes (C), Steph Fisher, Julia Robathan, Charlotte South, Paige Kavanagh, Danielle Carty, Carly Cowell, Tamara Bayne & Chelsea Forde.
subs - Kayleigh Nias & Dionne Manning.
It's Bedford to kick off the match in their kit of blue and black vertical striped shirts, black shorts and socks, against Dunstable lined up all in red. It's the visitors that start the brighter are after Bedford from the kick off pressing and winning the ball with Danielle Carty playing the ball out into space on the left for team mate Chelsea Forde to run onto she drives to the byline looks to put an early ball into the box, it's a Bedford centre back that meets the ball heads away. Dunstable continue to keep Bedford in their own half.
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| AFC Dunstable Ladies Danielle Carty |
GOAL! Dunstable are undone however as Bedford captain Natasha Fensome gets hold of the ball in the centre circle, chases it out to the left wing and surges forwards, has players breaking with her sends it into Eden Washington running into the box, she plays it across the area where Chelsea Hunter is waiting to receive the ball, the Dunstable defence having been drawn across to the ball, Hunter at the far post has the time to place the ball into the back of the net 1-0.
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| Bedford Ladies captain Natasha Fensome looking to start an attack |
Dunstable are getting the ball up into their attackers, Carly Cowell and Tamara Bayne are strong can hold the ball up whilst Chelsea Forde in particular is looking to support, get numbers forwards from a throw in the ball is sent over the Bedford goal as it drops to Danielle Carty inside the box. At the other end Bedford are looking to release Eden Washington get her one and one against the Dunstable defence, on two occassions she is shoulder to shoulder with Elly Wade, the Dunstable defender putting in a good challenge to take the ball from her.
Washington wins a header in a central position her back to goal plays in Maisie Wyatt making a run to her left, the no 7 bursts into the box, Dunstable goal keeper Gemma Fisher comes out to close her down, makes the save with her legs as she slides in to challenge for the ball, does well the ball going out for a throw.
Bedford having been squeezed on the ball themselves early on now start to turn the tables on Dunstable as their midfield presses the visitors in the middle looking to win the ball earlier and set up an attack with Fensome in the heart of the action.
GOAL! It's Fensome making the tackle then taking the ball out to the left that sets up another goal for Bedford, driving forwards fires her cross in low on the diagonal across the area comes through to Rebecca Vass who has made the run to the far post froman acute angle she has the time to compose herself fires the ball back across the goal and in to make it 2-0.
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| Bedford Ladies Rebecca Vass |
GOAL! Barely time to write down the details of Vass' first goal before she get's in on the scoring act again, right from Dunstable's retake, Bedford hustle the ball, win it and once again driving down the left fire an early cross into the box, Vass is at the near post six to eight yards out as the ball comes into her she sends the ball towards goal over keeper Fisher as she tries to block and into the back of the net 3-0.
Fisher almost spills a vicious shot sent in by Fensome from distance as the Bedford captain wins the ball back and looks to strike from distance. Fisher gets a glove on the ball it doesn't stick but as she is closed down on her line she recovers to drop and claim the ball. Dunstable are struggling to get the ball out from the back with both full backs being kept occupied. Washington finds space out on the right looks to push into the box, Dunstable full back Paige Kavanagh gives chase slides in to put the ball behind for a corner.
GOAL! Fensome gets the goal that her all round play in the 1st half has deserved, with Vass turning provider this time as the two combine with Fensome playing the ball high for Vass on the edge of the box, Fensome continues her run as Vass heads the ball on weighted perfectly for Fensome who storms into the box and sends the ball over Fisher to score 4-0.
In the middle of the park Dunstable's Charlotte South puts a good tackle in on Fensome to get hold of the ball, looks to push on sends it out to Bayne on the left finds the space for a cross, has players making ground to get into the area puts the ball across but behind Danielle Carty.
GOAL! Dunstable retain the ball with numbers pushed up it's Chelsea Forde who has the ball at her feet 25 yards out central she puts her foot through the shot sends the ball into the back of the net to pull a goal back for the visitors 4-1.
Half-time Bedford Ladies 4-1 AFC Dunstable Ladies
Bedford find themselves with a comfortable lead after the 1st half with an early goal, then a purple patch towards the latter part of the half to extend their lead. Dunstable pulling one back late on to give them a glimmer of hope of a come back in the 2nd half. It's Dunstable to kick off the 2nd half.
The 2nd half starts off evenly between both sides, Dunstable work the ball down the left the final pass looking to send Bayne through in on goal finds the attack straying offside.
Washington on the ball brings it forwards threads a pass through the Dunstable back line for Vass to run down cutting into the box she fires the ball across the six yard line looking for Wyatt coming in the pass is too strong, Wyatt can't meet it as the ball goes out.
Dunstable win a free kick near the half way line the high ball played into the box is headed clear, comes back out to Forde, she looks to fire in another long range strike doesn't get the height or power needed as it comes in for Bedford goal keeper Katie Upton to save. The ball is played out quickly up the pitch for Fensome to run onto left of the goal she puts a cross/shot wide of the far post.
Upton has to watch the ball all the way as it drops onto the roof of her net after good build up play from Dunstable with Carly Cowell strong holding onto the ball on the right before playing it into the middle to South, who prods the ball onto Forde who strikes the ball high towards goal but over.
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| AFC Dunstable Ladies Carly Cowell |
Bayne for Dunstable with the ball on the left this time looking to run with the ball holding off her marker lays it back into South making the ground up to support her, she passes the ball into Forde outside the area she looks to turn and get a shot away, takes a deflection off a Bedford shin pad taking the sting out of the shot allowing Upton to gather easily.
Bedford attack Fensome centally drives on pops the ball out to Wyatt on her left, the no 7 floats a high ball into the box looking for Vass, she has Elly Wade with her and the Dunstable defender does well to prevent the Bedford striker getting anything on the ball as Fisher comes and takes it. Dunstable make their 1st change with Paige Kavanagh coming off.
Bedford make a change to with Holly Venn coming on for Chelsea Hunter, the substitution sees Fensome pushed further forwards to support Vass in attack with Washington pulling out wide as Venn joins Chloe Scott in the centre of midfield.
The home side have a break on from a Dunstable free kick Fensome is on the ball the visitors back line is stretched as they back track, Fensome puts the ball into Vass inside the box she looks to shoot early can't get the ball past Fisher who makes the save.
GOAL! Bedford add a 5th goal as they win possession back from Dunstables goal kick played down the right Fensome has come out to get onto the ball looks to take players on breaking into the box coming to the corner of the six yard box strikes the ball across the keeper and into the net 5-1.
Bedford make another change with Sophie Britton coming off to be replaced by Antonia Mitchell. Bedford are looking to put the ball through for Fensome to get onto and take on the Dunstable defence, just too long a pass on one occasion, the next opportunity Fensome has the ball outside the box puts her shot over the cross bar.
Dunstable bring on Dionne Manning for Julia Robathan. The visitors have a free kick out to the left of the area 30 yards out it's Kayleigh Nias to strike the ball, goes for goal, Upton makes a good save to deny her. Chelsea Forde has a go from long range not long after her shot is off target.
Chloe Scott is getting more time on the ball has space to exploit in the middle as Dunstable look to press on, puts the ball into Fensome pushing forwards she looks to take on the last defender, flicks the ball past her as she enters the box then as Fisher comes rushing out tries to send the ball under her with the outside of her boot, Fisher though is down quick enough to make the save.
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| Natasha Fensome doing more attacking 2nd half |
Late on with Dunstable pushing a high line Fensome is on the shoulder of the last defender peels away as the ball is put over, she is through with only the keeper to beat, Fisher comes running out Fensome slides the ball past her, but also sends the ball wide of the goal.
Full-time and Bedford Ladies beat AFC Dunstable Ladies 5-1 to progress to the draw for the semi-finals. A solid performance from the County Cup holders in defence of their trophy. They will be joined in the draw for the semi-finals by Flitwick Ladies who won 4-0 away to Sandy Ladies as well as Offley & Stopsley Ladies who were 2-0 away winners at Toddington Rovers Ladies. The final quarter final between Luton Town Ladies and Leighton United Vixens was postponed.
A good day out in Bedfordshire my thanks to both clubs managers for helping me out today.
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