Bedford knock seven bells out of Wisbech
BEDFORD HOCKEY CLUB LADIES 7 WISBECH 0
East Premier League
Bedford ended the year on a high on Saturday with a 7-0 demolition of basement side Wisbech. Two first half strikes from Natalia Norford put Bedford in the driving seat before they added a further five goals in an impressive second half display to record their biggest victory of the season.
It was an impressive performance from the maroons as they head into the Christmas break in third place in the East Premier League, although they remain well adrift of runaway leaders Bromley and Beckenham.
After a disappointing point against West Herts last week, Connie Mason and Katherine Winger returned to the Bedford squad but midfield maestro Winger picked up a foot injury in the opening 10 minutes and had to be withdrawn.
Unaffected by this early change, Bedford set a high tempo from the start with Wisbech struggling to break out of their own half under intense pressure from the forwards.
Bedford struck first at the 10 minute mark when captain Kate Costin disposed a defender and arrowed in a fierce lifted shot which the Wisbech keeper could only parry into the path of Natalia Norford who tucked the ball home.
Moments later Bedford doubled their lead and it was Norford again who scored her second after good build up play from Kelly Bingham.
Bedford's midfield enjoyed a lot of possession with Sarah Walsh and Sherri Skene controlling the game for the maroons and Bingham and Childs on the flanks able to attack the D creating further chances for Mason and Norford.
Rock bottom Wisbech were not able to penetrate the solid Bedford backline with Elli Priston having a great game at the heart of the Bedford defence and Darrington, Maclaren and Pether able to push forward with the ball to create overloads. Despite this domination, the home side couldn't extend their lead with Bingham, Costin and Childs all crowded out by big numbers of Wisbech defenders when in goal scoring positions.
Into the second half and Bedford stepped up their intensity and it wasn't long before Skene made it two goals in consecutive weeks with a fantastic high strike into the roof of the net after a brilliant swift counter attack from a defensive short involving Costin and Childs.
Fran Lee was the next player to get her name on the score sheet with a first time deflection after Bingham's run down the right in a move also involving Darrington and Costin.
Wisbech only threatened with a short spell of possession midway through the half, as Bedford let complacency enter their play and the tempo dropped for a short while. During this spell Pether nearly inadvertently deflected a strike past Leanne Sargeant who had to be on her toes to stop, before Priston made a fantastic goal line clearance from another short corner to earn an important clean sheet.
Into the final 15 minutes and, as Wisbech tired, Bedford turned on the style and pushed on in search of more goals and festive cheer with Bingham involved in much of the play and player-of-the-match Costin, Mason and Childs all denied in front of goal.
It was Bingham again who was the architect of Bedford’s fifth goal as her run and cross was tucked past the keeper with a reverse stick deflection from Connie Mason before the ever dangerous Lee got her double with a back post tap in after a great pass from Skene.
There was still time for Bedford to make it their biggest margin of victory this season as Lee and Costin combined beautifully at the top of the D to see Bingham grab her seventh goal of the campaign with a deflection on the right post.
Riverside Grill Player of the Match – Kate Costin
