
Watford Women stretched their lead at the top of the FA WNL Southern Premier Division thanks to a Poppy Wilson double at Real Bedford.
The Friday night fixture saw Abbie Bensted put the ball in the net early on for mid-table Bedford, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
It was instead Watford who scored first, with Maddie Perry setting up Poppy Wilson to fire the ball in at the near post.
The lead was short-lived, as Breon Grant pressured goalkeeper Sophie Hillyerd into making a mistake that led to an easy tap-in.
After the break, Coral Haines hit the post for the visitors, while Bedford’s Rhianne Rush forced a save from Hillyerd.
With seven minutes of the 90 left, a ball from Anna Filbey was met by Wilson as she completed her brace to restore Watford’s advantage at 2-1.
The result puts the Hornets four points ahead of second-placed Plymouth Argyle and five in front of AFC Bournemouth, who now have two games in hand.
More from the world of women’s football
Discover the latest issue of Her Goal Magazine, analysing Alexia Putellas' headline move to London City Lionesses and including a voucher to claim your FREE Women's Football Pyramid Poster 2026/27. Also featuring LCL's Isobel Goodwin, England’s Keira Barry in California, West Ham’s Nadine Riesen, Watford’s Anna Filbey and loads more from across the women's game.

