Stevenage kept the pressure on AFC Sudbury at the top of the Eastern Region Premier Division with another three points - although the success was not without its trials.

Boro's ladies saw off bottom of the league Bedford in a seven-goal thriller at the County Ground, winning 4-3 to stay four points behind the leaders who have a game in hand.

Stevenage were buoyed by the return of top scorer Amy Makewell to the side and it took her just two minutes to get into the action, an early shot well saved by Erica Turner.

Bedford also began brightly and after forcing the Stevenage defence into a mistake, Ocean Gregory sliced a good chance wide.

The hosts were the ones to assert themselves though and after Hannah Nebbitt had forced Turner to tip a free-kick onto the bar, the rebound headed over, Vicky Neal was fouled inside the Bedford area.

And Makewell made no mistake from the penalty spot, scoring her 13th of the season.

Emily Schofield was the last player to really test Turner before half time but her lofted effort was saved.

The second period saw Beford come out like a side who suddenly felt they could get something and for the opening 15 minutes, they dominated matters.

And not only did it bring a deserved equaliser through Aliya Bhatti, four minutes later the basement side were ahead, Lauren Coppin crossing for skipper Tasha Fensome to knock past Mia O'Brien.

Substitutions for Stevenage brought instant rewards though, with Erin Price going on to produce a match-winning performance.

She equalised two minutes after her arrival, latching on to a ball through by Tilly Fidler on the edge of the area before lashing an unstoppable effort that bounced in off the post.

 

But Bedford struck back with a speculative attempt, Destiny Pap catching O'Brien out from distance.

And yet Stevenage were not done.

Neal had already gone close with two headers when she made it third time lucky, nodding home a Kelsey Millen corner for 3-3.

And they grabbed what turned out to be the winner when Price got her second again from some way out, Emily Schofield this time getting the assist.

She said: "It was great to contribute to the three points. Shooting from outside the box has been part of my development plan so it is nice to see it paying off."

The game was played at the end of what had been a fairly tumultuous week with manager Fadi Mazloum leaving his post after 18 months and Dave Perry stepping into the breach.

And the caretaker boss was happy with what he saw.

He said: "We showed great character to come back which I am most pleased about, the fight for each other was fantastic and they did everything we asked them to do."

The game was also used as way of raising awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research, a charity close to the heart of Boro's Becky Shephard whose dad, Dave, passed away from the disease in December 2019.

 

Stevenage: O’ Brien, Farmer, Neal, Brooks, Nebbitt, Bodily, Greenwood, Schofield, Millen, Makewell, Fidler

Subs: Price, Shephard, Lightning, Halliday, Ray.

Goals: Makewell, Price (2), Neal

Booked: Neal

 

Bedford: Turner, Glasspool, Pap, S Carroll, Cripps, Ajayi, Z Carroll, Bhatti, Coppin, Fensome, Gregory

Subs: Robinson, Washington, Kruszyna, Kaczorowski

Goals: Bhatti, Fensome, Pap