Stevenage FC

This weekend sees Stevenage FCW travel to McMullen Park to face Real Bedford in a battle for a place in the first round proper of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. It is here that some of the bigger teams will start to enter the fray, with WNL sides starting to make their way into the competition in a Royal Rumble style gauntlet up until the fourth round, where the WSL finally joins in.

Head to Head

Not much has changed in the head to heads since our previous preview at the start of the season – except for the result of that game. It was a game in which Boro’ had the ascendancy and could have had a few goals, not least from Kelsey Millen, before disaster struck. Katie White was adjudged to have handled the ball from close proximity and a penalty awarded and scored through ex-Boro player Gemma Croucher. Boro’ then peppered attempts at the Bedford goal, with Sarah Hudson – the Boro’ coaches player of the match - ensuring nothing would get past her. Goalscoring legend Natasha Fensome found herself sat on the bench just before half time following dissent towards the ref and a ten-minute sin bin – which also ruled her out of the opening part of the second half too. Boro’ did not take advantage of the extra player however, and then came the next in a series of unfortunate events. A shot from the aforementioned Fensome was saved off the line, but by the arm of Emily Schofield who proceeded to see red. Croucher stepped up, scored again and Boro’ were in trouble. Fensome did get her goal as did substitute Neve Mayes in time added on. A little bit of shine was added late on, as Lilia Dempsey scored on her debut with a delightful little flicked header to the back post, the first of her three so far.

It means Bedford have won 70% of the games played together since 2012. History for Boro’ may mean that they have a mountain to climb, but as a famous man once said, “Mountains are there to be climbed.”

Team News

The team that played Bedford at the start of the season looked just like this:

O’Brien, Martin, Edge, Gunn, Nebbitt, White, Baker-Re, Bodily, Schofield, Makewell and Millen.

The substitutes that entered the game were Farmer, Gooderham, Dempsey and Southby.

Of that group, only Hannah Bodily has started every game of the season with Hannah Nebbitt, Lilia Dempsey and Amy Gooderham playing in all of the games, but with at least one start from the bench. Chloe Gunn reached her 50^th cap for the club last weekend in the County Cup but is unlikely to feature this weekend. Sophie Hendy and Sarah Payne will definitely miss out whilst Lucy Webster has finally undergone her operation and has begun her road to starting the 2024/25 season. After her player of the match performance last week, Matilda Thomas-O’Keefe will be looking to play again in this huge match.

Real Bedford began the game against Boro’ as follows:

Hudson, Reed, Milliken, Gerkey, Crooks, Carroll, Croucher, Washington, Franklin, Fensome and Partridge.

The subs bench looked like this - Billing, Mulvihill, Bhatti, Ajayi and Mayes

Bedford have maintained consistency since that game, with both results and playing staff. With nine games played so far, eight of this matchday squad have featured in every game. Zara Carroll, Gemma Croucher, Natasha Fensome, Gemma Franklin, Sarah Hudson, Francesca Partridge, Amy Reed and Sophie Billing. From a Boro’ perspective, the alumni of ex players at Bedford has increased from being Croucher and Milliken to three, with the addition of Erin Price who is likely to start for the league leaders and already has a goal in this fixture from last season.

Ones to watch

Real Bedford

Appearances 23/24

Natasha Fensome made her 150^th appearance for Bedford last weekend as they walloped Kings Lynn by just the thirteen goals, notching two herself, which follows hot off the heels of two successive hat tricks. The deadly striker has scored 8 in her last three games so will need to be kept quiet. Gemma Croucher is also off the back of a hat trick. With a front line that consists of players who have scored thirty-two goals in nine games, the Boro’ back line has it all to do.

Stevenage

Appearances 23/24 (Including County Cup)

Alongside these stats stands our top goal scorer of the season so far – Amy Makewell – with five goals so far this season. Rebecca Edge, Anna Baker-Re and Emily Schofield have all added to the total this season too, while Kristal Clarke has two to her name following last weekend’s decisive goal.

Tale of the Tape – Season So Far

Real Bedford

It has been smooth sailing for Bedford thus far. Conceding just seven goals in their opening nine matches. They have conceded more than once in a game on just two occasions and both of those were away from home. At McMullen Park, they have conceded just the two goals – one of which was of course from Boro’. With thirty goals scored whilst at home and twenty-one scored away from home – this will be a tricky tie for Stevenage. Bedford are unbeaten with a 100% record and five clean sheets. They defeated Hackney Women to progress in this competition, but did concede two in that game. A win two weeks ago against our next County Cup opponents Royston Town was the precursor for a dominant performance against bottom of the table Kings Lynn. Undoubtedly, this is a chance to go ten unbeaten for Bedford – but can Boro’ spoil the party?

Stevenage

It is a massive game for Stevenage which could almost double the prize pot for progression which would be a welcome investment to the club’s coffers. It was a tricky start for Boro’ with two defeats, a draw and a solitary win against Kings Lynn for the opening half of the season so far. Since then, Boro’ have turned around their results, with two wins and two draws, with both wins coming in cup matches and the draws in the league. Boro’ left it late in their previous round as their single goal lead was eradicated and overturned as late as the 86^th minute. However, Boro’ levelled immediately and went on to ensure a 2-5 victory and a place in this round. Last weekend, Boro’ kept their second clean sheet of the season, although Celine Ray was reasonably untested for the bulk of the match.

Around the Grounds

There is only one fixture to be played in the league this weekend as St Albans look to pull back Barking and send Boro’ into tenth place with a game in hand. Meanwhile, in FA Cup action, aside from this game, Needham Market and Royston Town will do battle in the only other all ERWFL Premier clash.

ERWFL Premier

Barking v St Albans City

FA Cup 3QR

Enfield Town v Bowers & Pitsea

Haringey Borough v Langford Ladies

Leyton Orient v Wroxham

Needham Market v Royston Town

Real Bedford v Stevenage FCW

Wodson Park v Luton Town

U23 watch

The U23s saw defeat last weekend, although Imogen Lightning scored again and Stephanie Fausse continued her hot streak with her sixth of the season. It was a result that saw the U23s drop into the drop zone, which is where they will remain this weekend as the proposed game at Wootton Blue Cross Lionesses has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Instead, Stevenage will be at home next weekend against Fakenham Town. If you need U23 content however, visit our YouTube channel - @Stevenage FCW – where you will find an exclusive interview with Tabitha Goodall.