Late heartbreak again for the U’s as Real Bedford score 96th minute winner in opening game of the WNL Cup group stage.
For U’s fans it felt like déjà vu again on Wednesday night as a late winner in added time secured the win for the opposition. After another encouraging performance from the U’s against a team the league above it was Real Bedford that came away with all 3 points after Logie’s late strike.
Following on from our opening league fixture against Fulham on Sunday, Sean Greygoose made five changes to the starting 11 that played the Cottagers as Shults, Jackson, Coupar, Jarvis and Marden came into the side.
Despite the changes it was the U’s who started the stronger of the two sides as Real Bedford were penned in their own half for much of the first 15 minutes as efforts from Wood and Bell were repelled by our visitors.
However, despite early dominance from the U’s it was Real Bedford who took the lead on the 18th minute as good play down the right resulted in a cross that was half cleared by the U’s defence.
The clearance fell straight to an opposition player on the edge who unleashed a shot that was superbly tipped onto the bar by Shults which bounced back to an onrushing Logie whose initial shot was again saved by Shults, but her heroics could not stop the forward finishing into an empty net leaving the U’s keeper with no chance.
After the opening goal both sides played out an evenly matched rest of the first half, with the only other notable chance being one for our visitors that was again expertly saved by Shults.
No changes for either side at half-time and the U’s started the second half invigorated as Real Bedford struggled to get out of their own half and created chances.
On the 54th minute Ella Marden was replaced by Mia Richards, and it didn’t take long for the sub to make an impact.
Five minutes later, in the 59th minute, Jade Bell found herself in space and split the Real Bedford defence with a through ball to a darting Richards who kept her cool to round the onrushing keeper and place into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
A couple more substitutions for the U’s as Mollie Coupar was replaced by the returning Stojko-Down in the 62nd minute and Emilia Reinhardt replaced Jade Bell in the 80th minute.
The U’s defence held strong in the second half as Real Bedford continued to threaten Shults’ goal.
Six minutes time was added on by the referee and in the last minute of added time the U’s defence was breached.
A corner from Real Bedford was not fully cleared by the U’s defence and the ball fell to Chloe Logie who made no mistake in adding her second of the game to put Real Bedford up 2-1 and secure all three points for the visitors.
Next up for the U’s is a return to league action as we take on Luton Town on the 24th of August and then Dulwich on the 31st of August; both games are at the home of Cambridge United Women: St Neots Town FC.
Cambridge United: Shults, Miles, Cheal-Ferris, Jackson, Coupar, Bell, Edgar, Jarvis, Stephenson, Marden, Wood
Subs Not Used: Webb, Farrow, Docking
Goalscorers: Mia Richards (59’)
Bookings: None
Real Bedford: Meale, Warren (Evans, 79’), Stovold, Tambula, Williams, Biggadike, Rush (Gaylor, 62’), O’Brien (Grant, 62’), Logie, Wood (Hayes, 62’), Byrom (Bryant, 62’)
Subs Not Used: Smith, Bensted
Goalscorers: Chloe Logie (18’, 90+6’)
Bookings: None
Attendance: TBC