Acle United Ladies slipped to their second league defeat of the season after a 3-1 defeat to Bedford in a feisty affair which saw seven players booked.

After an even start to the game, it was the hosts who created the first chance but Cyan Fullbrook in the Acle goal came off her line to save deflecting the ball for a corner. The visitors' first attempt on goal saw Naomi Cooper fire just wide after receiving the ball from Flatt.

However, it was the hosts who opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark. Kate Pasque cleared a set-piece, but her well-hit clearance rebounded off a Bedford player and past a helpless Fullbrook. Acle pushed forward looking for an equaliser and only a good double save by the Bedford keeper prevented the visitors drawing level.

As the half progressed, play got condensed into a midfield battle, with neither side testing their opposing keepers. From a goal-kick, Cooper was put away down the right flank by Anna Larkins and her cross to the far post saw Todd hitting the volley first time but she was unlucky to see her shot clear the bar.

From a quick throw-in, Bedford were put clear on goal and Fullbrook did well to tip the ball around the post after an awkward bounce almost caught the Acle keeper out and in the last action of the half, Pasque conceded a foul on the edge of the penalty-area, with Fullbrook palming the set-piece over the bar as the hosts went into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.

Within two minutes of the restart Bedford doubled their lead, when the visitors gave a Bedford player too much time on the ball and her shot from 20 yards looped over Fullbrook into the goal. However, Acle reduced the deficit just five minutes later. Larkins won a corner on the right flank and the set-piece was cleared back to her and her pin-point cross was headed home by Pasque at the near post.

With 20 minutes remaining Fullbrook was the first Acle player to go into the referee's notebook. Rushing out of her goal after a ball had been played behind the Acle backline, Fullbrook brought down the home striker just outside the penalty-area; with covering players, the referee showed the yellow card, whilst the home manager and crowd were shouting for a red card.

Pasque almost put the visitors level in the 75th minute. Starting the move in her own half, the Acle centre-back went past two home players before linking up well with Holden and Burton and after continuing her run forward received the ball back and fired in a shot from 20 yards which just cleared the bar.

As the game reached the closing stages, tempers were starting to get a little heated, with Pasque booked for a tackle then Amber Rowland followed her into referee's notebook after an altercation with a Bedford player. During this period the hosts also saw three of their players booked.

Megan Todd was the fourth Acle player to be booked after barging a player out of her way who blocked her whilst trying to make a run down the right flank as the visitors looked for an equaliser.

In the fifth minute of added time, Bedford wrapped up the game, scoring direct from a free-kick conceded just outside the penalty-area which gave Fullbrook no chance of saving.

Acle United Ladies: Fullbrook, Larkins, Mungham-Gray, Scully, Pasque, Shields, Todd, Flatt, Holden, Kindred, Cooper. Subs used: Bullard, Rowland, Burton. Unused: Copeman.