Comfortable 3-0 Win for The Pirates on Their Return to Pancake Lane
Real Bedford made if four wins on the bounce with a dominant 3-0 victory over Leverstock Green at Pancake Lane, avenging last season's 2-1 defeat. Goals from Shaheim Ward, Joey Evans and Jack Morrell brought the three points back to Bedford
Real Bedford return to Pancake Lane having lost to their fellow promotion winners, Leverstock Green last season. This season has been a different story with the sides competing at different ends of the table this season.
Bedford started well and had their first chance in the 17th minute when Stevens fired a shot just over the bar. The no.10 came close again just three minutes later, shooting wide after a clinical Bedford counter-attack sliced through the Leverstock Green defence.
The Pirates continued to press, winning a free kick in a dangerous position in the 26th minute. However, Isaac Galliford’s effort from the angle flew over the bar, but the breakthrough finally came in the 36th minute following some slick one-touch passing with Galliford setting up Shaheim Ward for an easy tap-in to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Leverstock Green struggled to create clear-cut chances, with their first real attempt coming in the 41st minute when Giuseppe Delgaudio's shot was blocked, resulting in a corner. Despite this, the hosts were unable to capitalise, and Bedford took their slender lead into the break.
Second Half
Bedford came out of the blocks quickly in the second half, with captain Lee Watkins going close in the 48th minute, only to be denied by a fine save from Leverstock keeper Alfie Bonfield.
Leverstock tried to respond and had a good opportunity in the 57th minute when Callum Neal’s through ball found Radu-Mihai Stefanoacia, but his cross was cleared before it could reach a teammate. However, two minutes later, Bedford doubled their lead with a near-identical goal to their first. Galliford once again delivered a perfect ball across the face of the goal, this time for Joey Evans, who slotted home to make it 2-0.
Leverstock Green had pressed to get back into the game and started to create chances, including a dangerous ball across the face of the goal from Stefanoacia in the 67th minute, but there were no takers. The game was put to bed just two minutes later when Jack Morrell leapt at the near post to head home from a corner, extending Bedford’s lead to 3-0.
Leverstock’s best chance of the match came in the 84th minute when Rawn Seale headed a cross from Jamie Breen over the bar, squandering the opportunity to get his side back into the game. Seale's evening then went from bad to worse as he was shown a straight red card in the 88th minute following an off-the-ball incident with Brett Longden.
The game finished 3-0 with the Pirates retaking their position at the top of the league as others were playing in the FA Cup.
Real Bedford now face Leighton Town on Friday 20th September in the FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying. Tickets for the match are available here.
RBFC: McGregor, Morrell, Kpohomouh, S.Ward (Knight 88’), Longden, Richardson, Nicolson (Corbit 84’), Galliford (Agemoh-Davies 77’), Stevens, Watkins (Ty Ward 88’), Evans (Hitchcock 82’).
Leverstock Green 0 - 3 Real Bedford
14th September, 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Location: Pancake Lane
