Seven heaven for the Pirates in Beaconsfield demolition
By Will Murray
Real Bedford moved nine points clear at the top of the Southern League Division One Central table, beating Beaconsfield Town 7-1 at the Ledger Stadium. Joey Evans grabbed four goals for the Pirates, while Drew Richardson, Ben Stevens and Jack Snelus also got on the scoresheet.
Rob Sinclair’s side dominated the early proceedings, with Evans coming close to opening the scoring after only four minutes – hitting the post from close range after receiving a Stevens cross.
The Pirates were ahead in the 16th minute when captain Lee Watkins saw his effort from 20 yards out parried to Evans, who was there to tap the ball home.
Chances kept on coming after the opener, with Stevens and Evans both coming close to doubling the lead. Evans scored his second of the afternoon in the 26th minute, scoring the rebound from inside the box after Archie Jones’ left-footed strike had initially struck the post.
Five minutes later, the lead became three. An Isaac Galliford corner was flicked on by Richardson, and after a mix-up between the Beaconsfield goalkeeper and his defenders.
Stevens then added a fourth in the 34th minute, receiving the ball from the left wing and calmly slotting a first-time effort into the bottom corner.
The Pirates had further chances to extend the lead but went in at the break with a four-goal lead after some scintillating attacking play
Second Half
The pressure didn’t relent in the second half, with Evans and Richardson both going close to adding a fifth in the first few minutes after the break. Evans completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute, receiving the ball from Jones after a fantastic passing move that started from Shaheim Ward deep in the defensive half.
Further chances came for Richardson, Jones and Evans, as the Pirates continued to apply relentless pressure on the visitors. The number nine grabbed his fourth in the 58th minute, this time receiving a perfectly weighted through ball from Stevens, before easily tucking the ball past the goalkeeper.
It was a tough afternoon for the visitors, but they scored a consolation in the 66th minute as Josh Marcon’s corner was met by Manuchim Oke-William at the backpost.
The Pirates had the last laugh, though. In the 88th minute, two substitutes combined, with Tom Hitchcock heading the ball past the goalkeeper and cutting it back to Snelus, who fired home from the six-yard box to score his first since returning from a long-term injury.
Next up is an away match against Aylesbury United at The Meadow.
After the game, Sinclair said:
“In terms of their press, they are aggressive with it. We obviously spoke about that, they did it in the game at their place as well. We wanted to miss the initial press, which we did superbly well. So, yeah that was a big part of what we wanted to do, and the boys did that today.”
The Pirates are next at home on CheatCode Conference weekend, Saturday 12th April, facing Kings Langley in the league. Tickets for the match are available here
RBFC: McGregor, Morrell, S. Ward, Longden, Richardson, Watkins (T. Ward 83’), Jones (Nicolson 68’), Galliford (Agemoh-Davies 68’), Stevens, Setchell (Snelus 75’), Evans (Hitchcock 79’).
Real Bedford 7-1 Beaconsfield Town
29th March 2025
Kick-off: 3pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
