Wednesday 28 October 2026
FA WNL Southern Premier Division
MGroup Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 2
(Manders 17’, Casley 24’)
Real Bedford… 2
(Puddick 3’, Komani 45’)
Oxford United Women dropped their first league points of the season in a competitive game against Real Bedford under the lights.
First-half goals from Holly Manders and Riva Casley earned United a point that keeps them at the top of the league table and continues their unbeaten start.
U’s manager Liam Gilbert reverted to the side that beat Wimbledon 2-1 in the last league outing, making five changes from the side that beat AFC Portchester 5-0 in the Women’s FA Cup.
The game started with the visitors opening the scoring after only three minutes as the ball was put across goal for a tap-in for Nicola Puddick after a well worked move from the opposition on the right. The Yellows looked to respond instantly to the setback as Sophie Quirk’s dangerous cross was taken away from Manders and headed behind for a corner. From the resulting corner a goalmouth scramble led to a goal-line clearance to deny the U’s.
The action-packed opening ten minutes continued with the away side spurring a golden chance to double their lead as a one-on-one was blazed over the bar, before a crucial interception at the other end, only moments later, denied Ruby Sealey a chance to equalise.
The game began to settle but as the match approached the 20th minute, Oxford won a free-kick 25 yards out from goal. Top goalscorer Manders stepped up to take it, beautifully whipping the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner to give her side a deserved leveller.
After the United goal, Real Bedford looked to quickly retake the lead, but Oxford defended strongly, and in the 24th minute their strong defensive work paid off as, at the other end, they found a goal to take the lead.
A Manders corner was swung to the back post to find Casley, who powered her header back across the goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net. The U’s had turned the game on its head after falling behind, but the action didn’t stop there.
Only minutes after the goal, the visitors looked to find their own equaliser, as the Yellows goalkeeper Beth Wookey was forced into a great save from a low effort across goal. Following this, at the other end of the pitch, United looked to extend their lead as Kate Wiseman headed towards goal, drawing a crucial save from the opposition.
As the first half drew to a close, Oxford had multiple chances to extend their lead, but the away side defended well, before riding their luck as Nicola Gibson struck the crossbar after a free-kick into the box bounced at her feet.
The U’s were forced to rue their missed opportunities as the visitors equalised in the final minute of the half. A powerful long-range effort was saved by Wookey but the rebound was driven into the net by Anele Komani, leading to the half-time whistle being blown with sides level.
The second half began in the same competitive fashion as the first with both teams fighting to take control of the match, leading to a tense atmosphere within the stadium.
The game began to lack clear-cut chances, but with every minute the battle intensified. United were defending brilliantly but were struggling to create chances and control the match. In the 68th minute, Liam Gilbert made his first substitution of the night as Ellie-Mae Richardson came on to replace Sealey.
Following the substitution, Oxford began to regain control of the match as an intense high press led to an opportunity from the edge of the box that couldn’t be converted. The U’s looked to sustain their period of control and attack with another substitution, as Emma Thompson replaced Gibson in an attacking change.
The Yellows continued to press for a winner, dominating the final exchanges, with their best chance coming in the 79th minute as Captain Jenna Legg struck the side netting from a tight angle in the box after a well-worked team move.
As the game came close to its conclusion, Real Bedford fired a big chance over the bar from a counter-attack, before United crowded the opposition box for a set piece in their last roll of the dice. The ball was subsequently cleared, and the referee blew the final whistle to confirm the 2-2 scoreline.
To watch yesterday’s post-match interviews with Liam Gilbert and Jenna Legg, please click HERE.
Next up for Oxford United is a return to the MGroup Stadium as they face Chelsea PGA in the knockout stages of the FA WNL Cup on Sunday 1 November.
Oxford United: Wookey, Gibson (Thompson 74’), Wiseman, Casley, Legg, Sealey (Richardson 68’), Palmer, Brant, Barker, Quirk, Manders
Subs: Sieradzka, Provan, Powis, Rowden, Burgess
Report by Toby Ludbrook
