Real Bedford win League Cup against Cockfosters
The Pirates prevailed in a tense final to do the double at Colney Heath.
Rob Sinclair’s squad added to their league win confirmed last week after winning the League Cup trophy 3-2 against a 10-man Cockfosters.
The game was held at the Recreation Ground, the home of Colney Heath with a sea of Pirates fans making the hour-long trip down the A1 for the final game of the season. The first half proved to be end to end, but it was Bedford who would break the deadlock.
Tyler McGregor produced a pinpoint pass to Joey Evans, catching Cockfosters on the counter, with Evans in one one-on-one with the keeper, Aiden Read had little choice but to bring down Evans in the box, giving the referee little option but to point to the spot. Evans converted the spot kick to give Real Bedford the lead.
Evans was instrumental in the second goal also, just before halftime. Bedford’s top bagsman was played into space by Charlie Smith before he laid the ball off to Mo Ahmed who passed it into a vacant net to double the advantage heading into the break.
Second Half
Things would go from bad to worse for Cockfosters as early in the second half, Jay Lovell was shown two yellow cards in quick successions for bad fouls on Mo Ahmed, sending the defender for an early shower with well over 30 minutes left on the clock.
Despite this, Cockfosters didn’t roll over and instead found themselves back in the match soon after. Some miscommunication at the back between Brett Longden and Drew Richardson allowed for Jay Entwhistle to get onto the ball with only McGregor in his way. Entwhistle tucked it under the Bedford keeper to bring Cockfosters back into the equation.
This led to a cagey final 20 minutes with both sides conceding chances for their opponents to convert. However, it would be Bedford who were awarded the last laugh. With the clock in the red, Cockfosters put everything into one last attack which was cleared by Richardson into the path of Mo Ahmed. The winger knocked the ball into open space before playing a one-two with Ben Stevens and tucking the ball past Tiernan Parker to seal the deal for Real Bedford.
The Pirates lifted the Cup, marking their second double in as many seasons.
RBFC: McGregor, Longden, Richardson, Wood, Knight ©, Smith (Corbit 86’), Watkins, Setchell, Stevens, Ahmed, Evans (Hitchcock 76’)
Unused Subs: Ducket, Gordon, Agemoh-Davies
Cockfosters 2 - 3 Real Bedford
24th April, 2024
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Location: Recreational Ground
