A disciplined performance from Rugby Borough brought Real Bedford’s 100% record to an end at McMullen Park, winning 2 - 1.

Real Bedford welcomed Rugby Borough to McMullen Park on Saturday, looking to extend their winning run to 12, but a well-organised Borough defence held on to win 2 - 1.

The away team arrived confident of an upset on the back of five straight wins and took the lead within two minutes through Adam Shaw. Captain Sebastian Castleton caught James Ducket in possession, the ball falling to striker Halim Halim who put Shaw clean of the Bedford defence, showing composure to bury the ball in the bottom right-hand corner beyond Tyler McGregor.

The early goal allowed Borough to execute a game plan designed to frustrate the Bedford attack while hitting back on the break. The strategy worked for the first half as they defended wave after wave of Bedford attack while threatening to double their lead on multiple occasions.

Bedford retained most of the possession through the first half but could not find the back of the net. On 25 minutes, Matty Clifford nearly found an equaliser with a free-kick. His curling left-foot shot deflected off the Borough wall, hitting the inside of the post but bouncing frustratingly past the oncoming Eddie Corbit. The Rugby defence cleared the ball, only for Luke Knight to whip another cross into the box. Sam Chalkley saved Hitchcock’s header well, rebounding to James Ducket, who headed the ball back onto the bar.

Despite further pressure from Bedford, Borough should have scored next just before the halftime break. Luke Knight lost possession of the ball under pressure from Migahey, who squared the ball to Adam Shaw, but with the goal open, Shaw somehow managed to rattle the bar, the ball falling back to Migahey, who had his shot cleared off the line by Knight.

Second Half

While the second half played out much the same as the first, Rugby Borough had the first chance to net again. Shaw, a menace to the Bedford defence all afternoon, took possession of the ball on the edge of the box, stayed on his feet under pressure from Clifford and broke clear only to be thwarted by McGregor.

Bedford nearly levelled the game on 50 minutes. This time the woodwork would deny Jordan Brown. Picking the ball up on the right-hand side of the box, he took the ball past the Borough defence and unleashed a wicked shot from a tight angle, only to see the ball head behind off the post.

With Bedford piling on the pressure, it was Rugby who scored next. Matty Clifford conceded a foul on the edge of the box close to the byline. The free-kick floated to the back stick, where Max Proudlock won the header, the ball dropping to his feet which he stabbed home.

Bedford did not give up on the result and finally found the net in the net in the 93rd minute. A clever through ball from Tom Hitchcock found Jordan Brown behind the Borough defence. Brown rounded the keeper and finished from a tight angle, a deserved goal for the striker who had worked hard all afternoon.

Deep in injury time, Bedford pushed for an equaliser, and Knight thought he had equalised in the 95th minute. With Brown fouled just outside the box, Knight’s low shot was well saved by Chalkley in goal.

The game ended with Borough winning 2 - 1, a solid win for a well-executed game plan. The away team’s run, raising their profile and positioning themselves as title contenders.

Bedford looks to bounce back away to Letchworth Garden City Eagles on Tuesday (18th October).

RBFC: McGregor, R. Ducket (Gordon, 50’), Owusu, J. Ducket, Wood, Clifford, Corbit (Sinclair, 80’), Knight ©, Brown, Hitchcock, Culley (McGrath 80’).

Unused Substitutes: McLeod-Bentley, Uttridge.