Second half comeback secures important three points on the road
By Will Murray
Real Bedford scored three second-half goals to secure an important 3-1 away victory against Ware at Wodson Park. The match was the Pirates’ first of 2025 and moves them to within a point of league leaders Berkhamsted.
Coming into the game, Rob Sinclair’s side had won nine out of their 10 away league matches. Ware tested their resolve in the early stages, though, and scored the opener in the ninth minute through Stefanos Georgiou.
Bedford struggled to break through Ware’s compact shape throughout the first-half. The best chance for the visitors came in the 28th minute when Ben Stevens played through the in-form Joey Evans, but his effort was well saved.
The Pirates were unable to find the equaliser before the break, meaning they had work to do in the second half.
Second Half
Six minutes after the interval, Bedford levelled the match. Drew Richardson’s perfectly weighted through ball over Ware’s left-back found Josh Setchell, who squared the ball to Evans in the box. The Pirates’ number nine tucked away the chance to give his side some much-needed momentum.
Bedford took control of the match after Evans’ equaliser, creating numerous chances on the right-hand side through Setchell and Stevens.
The visitors were rewarded for their second-half dominance in the 67th minute when Evans played through Ty Ward, who calmly slotted the ball home to put Bedford ahead for the first time in the game.
Stevens was a thorn in Ware’s side throughout the afternoon and put the match out of the hosts reach in the 86th minute when he volleyed the ball past the goalkeeper following some last-ditch defending.
Bedford had further chances in the late stages through Stevens and Tom Hitchcock but settled for an important 3-1 victory ahead of Tuesday’s top-of-the-table clash against Berkhamsted at The Ledger Stadium.
After the match, manager Sinclair said:
“It’s an exciting game on Tuesday. Everyone knows it’s top against second, but we’re not going to listen to the noise and it’s another game of football we’ll prepare for.”
The Pirates host Berkhamsted in the league on Tueasday 14th January. Tickets for the match are available here.
RBFC: McGregor, Morrell, Longden, S.Ward, Richardson, Galliford (Agemoh-Davies 80’), T.Ward (Nicolson 71’), Stevens, Setchell (Soile 90+3), Evans (Hitchcock 88’).
Unused subs: Knight
Ware 1 - 3 Real Bedford
11th January 2025
Kick-off: 3pm
Location: Wodson Park
