Bedford 1-3 Wroxham
By Richard Giles
Above: There was plenty more for Wroxham to celebrate on Sunday. Photo: @WroxhamWomen.
The Yachtswomen made it four wins out of four with a hard-fought victory at Bedford on Sunday afternoon.
Going into the game without leading scorer Grace Birchall, a change in formation saw Lauren Bullard leading the line with Holly Walker playing on the left flank in place of Birchall and it was Walker who got Wroxham off to the perfect start, dispossessing a defender and sliding the ball past the home keeper.
The visitors buoyed by the early success pushed forward, and Walker was in the action again with Bedford forced to concede a corner from a dangerous cross into the goal area.
Bedford were looking dangerous on counterattacks and once such move forced a rash back pass to Fullbrook, who was left no alternative but to punch the ball clear to prevent a goal, with the referee awarding an indirect free-kick to the hosts. However, Wroxham were able to clear the danger.
The visitors continued to push forward looking to extend their lead with Amber Cantwell acting as a catalyst to the attack and forced a couple of corners in quick succession. However, a mistake playing out from a goal-kick allowed the visitors to equalise.
Wroxham had a golden chance to regain the lead just before the break when Cantwell was upended in the penalty area, but she saw her penalty come back off the post with the keeper well beaten as the sides went into the break level.
The early pressure in the second half came from Wroxham, with the home keeper saving at the feet of Naomi Cooper, then Cooper played inside to Bullard who in turn fed Becky Russell only to see the latter’s shot deflected for a corner.
However, the pressure paid off seven minutes into the half, with Cantwell latching onto a cross and guiding the ball past the keeper to give Wroxham a 2-1 lead.
Cantwell hit the post for a second time after beating a defender and saw her shot from the rebound go just wide of the post, before Gracie Squire saw an effort go narrowly past the post.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Alice Parker hit a rasping shot from 30 yards into the top corner after Bullard played the ball into her path.
The visitors comfortable saw out the remaining minutes to consolidate their second place in the league and five points ahead of their nearest rivals.
Teams: BEDFORD: Teamsheet not supplied.
Scorer: Unknown.
WROXHAM: Fullbrook, Strauss, Parker, Horn, Meers, Scully, Holloway, Russell, Walker, Cantwell, Bullard. Subs used: A Long, N Cooper, G Squire.
Scorers: Walker, Cantwell, Parker.
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