Real Bedford hit devastating form away to Buckingham Athletic to take the top position in the league.

Real Bedford maintained their 100% start to the season with a dominant display away to Buckingham Athletic.

Two goals from Dan Walker, Jordan Brown and Kevin Owusu and a goal for Rob Ducket followed Buckingham’s opener and took Bedford to the top of Spartan South Midlands Division One.

With the temperature topping 33°c, both teams took time to settle into the conditions, and it was Buckingham who took the lead on 22 minutes. Striker Rory Busby broke free of the Real Bedford defence and hit a shot that bounced over stand-in Bedford goalkeeper Tyler McGregor.

It was the first goal Real had conceded, but the team responded and pulled level after great work from Jordan Brown, turning the Buckingham defence before cutting the ball back to Kevin Owusu to slot home on 27 minutes.

Within two minutes, Bedford was in the lead, and again, Brown was instrumental. Rob Ducket put Brown clear of the Buckingham defence where he cut the ball back to Andy Sinclair, but after a rash challenge from the Buckingham defence gave Bedford a penalty. Dan Walker confidently stepped up to put the ball in the bottom left-hand corner.

Brown was rewarded for his hard work with his own goal in first half injury time. The striker pounced on a mistake from the Buckingham defence and rounded the keeper, chipping the ball into the net.

Second Half

Bedford got off to a blistering start to the second half hitting three more goals within three minutes of the whistle.

Firstly Rob Ducket headed home a cross from Dan Walker on 46 minutes. A minute later, Dan Walker got his second of the match, slotting home after Jordan Brown played him clear before Brown also scored a second after excellent work on the wing from Kevin Owusu.

For Buckingham, it was a devastating start to the half, but they managed to hold up the defence until the 81st minute when Kevin Owusu scored his second of the game, a hard low shot from outside of the box.

It could have been much worse for Buckingham but the linesman flagged Tom Hitchcock offside after he smashed the ball into the back of the net.

The result sent Bedford to the top of the table and hopefully signals where the team will be in April.

Rob Sinclair’s team continue their campaign away against Burton Park Wanderers on Saturday 20th August. This match will be available for international fans to stream live at 3.00pm BST.

RBFC: Brown, Clifford, Coyle, Ducket, Knight (Fisher, 85), McGrath (Baker-Bond, 72), McGregor, Owusu (Joseph, 82), Sinclair (Hitchcock, 51), Walker, Wood.