Real Bedford returned to league action with a bang. The league leaders put three goals past Eaton Socon on the road to collecting another three points as the title race heats up. Goals from Tom Hitchcock, Luke Knight and Dan Walker giving Bedford the double over Eaton Socon on a cold Tuesday evening.

The game got off to a perfect start for Real Bedford, opening the scoring in the 2nd minute. Matt Clifford played a teasing ball down the flank towards Jordan Brown, who tempted keeper Jeckells off his line. Eaton's shot stopper got caught in no-mans-land while committed to taking on Brown, who managed to find Walker on the by-line, unselfishly the Bedford striker squared the ball to Tom Hitchcock, who placed it in the corner of the empty net on his return to league action.

The travelling fans were hoping for another comfortable victory after Bedford's dominant result in the cup against Caddington. Still, Eaton Socon had other ideas and, despite the early goal, put in a strong half against the league leaders.

Tensions were relatively high from the off, with some full-blooded challenges in the opening few passages of play leading to heated moments off the ball. The referee's whistle became a regular addition to the game, meaning the game struggled to flow.

Despite the early goal, Eaton Socon were keen to get back into the game, forcing Bedford keeper Tyler McGregor to be alert to keep the home side at bay.

Twenty minutes in, Real Bedford had a good chance to extend their lead. Walker again acted as the provider, crossing the ball in from the left towards Matt Clifford around the penalty spot, who headed the ball down to Jordan Brown. Brown's shot, however, was blocked by Eaton defender Hickling, preventing the striker from adding to his goal tally at point-blank range.

Eaton Socon had the last chance before the break and were close to equalising. Striker Stockwell collected the ball on the edge of the area with an ambitious strike on the turn which rattled the crossbar. The home team may have felt that they deserved to be level but Bedford took the slender lead into the half-time break.

Second Half

In a similar fashion to the first period, Real Bedford came flying out of the blocks, and it was all too much for the Eaton Socon defence, who found themselves two down in the 55th minute. Whilst beating Eaton defender Woodend for pace, Jordan Brown tangled with the defender on the edge of the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Socon had reason to feel aggrieved as the replay indicated the clash may have been just outside the box. Still, Luke Knight stepped up and calmly tucked the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal, doubling Bedford’s advantage.

As the second half progressed, Bedford began to dominate possession, with the odd attack from Socon failing to produce many clear-cut chances, and in the 71st minute, the league leaders wrapped up all three points. Some superb interplay between Dan Walker and James Ducket opened up some space behind the Socon defence. Ducket squared the ball to Walker, who instinctively struck the ball cleanly towards the keepers near post, bagging his first league goal in 5 games to seal the win for the Pirates.

Bedford hunted for another goal and nearly made it four when Walker broke through the Socon high line as he again ran onto a well-timed ball from Kevin Owusu which put him one-on-one with the keeper. Jeckells did well to distract Walker from getting the shot away whilst also blocking Jordan Brown’s follow-up shot on the edge of the area.

A Luke Knight free kick set up the penultimate chance, and a floated ball into the box found the head of Tom Wood, who rose above the Eaton defenders but failed to find the target with his header. Then finally, with the clock in the red, a corner from Luke Knight found its way towards Clifford at the back post, whose deflected effort rattled the crossbar.

Socon had a chance to bag themselves a consolation goal but some excellent defending from Bedford’s newest recruit, Curtis Harley. The defender lunged to block a close-range shot and give Tyler McGregor a clean sheet.

The three goals proved more than enough as Real Bedford bagged another convincing win to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

Bedford returns to action on Saturday, 11th February, at McMullen Park against title rivals Northampton Sileby. Make sure you come down and support the lads.

STARTING XI: McGregor, Hartley, Clifford, McGrath (Corbit, 73’), Wood, J.Ducket, Owusu, Knight © (Culley, 89’), Walker, Hitchcock (Gordon 80’), Brown

UNUSED SUBS: R.Ducket, Uttridge