Bedford’s 6TH Straight League Win Takes Them Back To THe Top of THe Table
Real Bedford continued their 100% record, winning away at Holmer Green. With Ampthill dropping points at Lutterworth Athletic, Real went two points clear at the top of the Spartan South Midlands Division One.
After four successive defeats, Holmer Green had replaced their manager, signed two new players and picked up their first win away at Raunds. Despite this challenging start to the season, the away supporters quickly dismissed any thoughts that this would be an easy win for Bedford.
Two early chances for the hosts showed a team capable of playing good passing football, and with more clinical finishing, it could have been Holmer Green ahead first in the game.
Bedford managed to soak up the early pressure and should have been awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark. Jordan Brown picked up an excellent ball over the top of the Holmer defence, then took it past the keeper only to be upended inside the box. The referee determined this to be a dive by Brown, awarded a free-kick to the home team and carded the striker.
While Holmer Green dominated the opening 25 minutes of the game, Bedford took control of the last 15 minutes and managed to take the lead just before the break. Kevin Owusu picked up the ball in midfield and played a ball deep into the Holmer Box, which Tom Hitchcock picked up and cooly slotted into the bottom left-hand corner. With prolific striker Dan Walker on the bench after picking up a knock against Raunds Town, Hitchcock highlighted the squad's strength, scoring his fourth of the season for Real.
Second Half
The second half saw the arrival of new Real Bedford signing Jim Burnside, replacing Flynn Baker-Bond. With Jim sitting alongside Jordan Brown and Tom Hitchcock playing behind the front two, the game's dynamics changed as Burnside hustled the Holmer defence.
Bedford dominated the second-half's opening and doubled their lead on 57 minutes. A long clearance from the Bedford defence by James Ducket beat the Holmer defence, and Jordan Brown picked up the ball 35 yards out, taking the ball into the Holmer box before calmly slotting the ball under the goalkeeper.
It looked like all three points would be heading back to McMullen Park when Holmer Green pulled a goal back. Just three minutes after Brown's strike, the ball broke free in the Real box, which Holmer's number 10 hit first-time beyond the outstretched arms of Tyler McGregor, bringing the home side back into the game.
The goal could have set up a nervy end to the game, but the progress that Bedford has made this season under Rob Sinclair was on display when Jordan Brown restored the away team's two-goal lead with a wicked shot inside the box. Matt Clifford crossed from the left, and Brown picked up the ball 12 yards out, smashing it into the top left-hand corner.
Jordan Brown was not finished there and completed his hat-trick one minute after the restart with one of the goals of the season. Burnside put the Holmer midfield under immediate pressure from the kick-off, and the ball fell to Brown, who unleashed a shot into the top right-hand corner from 25 yards, completing his hat-trick.
While Bedford took all three points, Holmer Green proved better than their results suggest and will prove tough opposition as they develop under their new management.
Tuesday (20th September 2022) sees Real Bedford back at McMullen Park to face third in the table Moulton FC. Come and join us to support the lads in what might be Bedford’s most challenging game of the season so far.
RBFC: McGregor, J. Ducket (Sinclair, 54’), Wood, Clifford, Corbit, Coyle (McLeod-Bentley, 43’), R. Ducket, Baker-Bond (Burnside, 45’), Owusu, Brown (Joseph, 84’), Hitchcock.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Holmer Green 1 - 4 Real Bedford
Date: Saturday 17th September, 2022
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Location: Holmer Green Sports Association
