The Pirates delivered another impressive performance, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Aylesbury United
By Will Murray
Real Bedford moved 11 points clear at the top of the Southern League Division One Central table, beating Aylesbury United 4-1. Archie Jones, Joey Evans, and Ben Stevens scored the goals for the Pirates.
The Pirates started well, with Stevens coming close to opening the scoring after only five minutes when his lofted effort dropped just wide of the left post. Eight minutes later, Evans’ through ball deflected to Jones, who tucked the ball past Jack Hopwood to put the Pirates in a deserved lead.
Chances kept on coming with Stevens dragging a left-footed shot from the edge of the box just wide and also striking the crossbar from a tight angle after receiving the ball from Josh Setchell.
The hosts settled into the game midway through the first half and tested Tyler McGregor in the 39th minute when Ben Kakembo’s long-range effort was saved by the Pirates’ number one.
Evans put any hopes of an Aylesbury comeback to bed with a quickfire double before the break. In the 42nd minute, Setchell took on multiple defenders before firing a low shot, which was only partially saved by Hopwood, leaving space for the Pirates’ number nine to tap in from close range.
Two minutes later, Evans scored his second of the afternoon. This time, he chested home Isaac Galliford’s corner, grabbing his 33rd league goal of the campaign.
Second Half
The second half continued to see the Pirates dominate and force Aylesbury deep into their own half. Jones struck a half-volley just wide two minutes after the interval, but Stevens got on the scoresheet in the 55th minute. His perfectly placed free-kick from just outside the box found the bottom left corner to extend the advantage to four.
Tom Hitchcock, who came on in the 69th minute, nearly made an instant impact, forcing Hopwood to make an important save and volleying wide from close range.
Aylesbury got on the scoresheet in the 81st minute, denying the Pirates a well-deserved clean sheet. A free-kick from the corner of the box was swung in by Luqman Kassim and deflected off Hitchcock’s head into the top corner.
Unfortunately, Jack Snelus was forced off in the late stages of the game due to an injury, meaning the Pirates had to play the last few minutes with ten men.
All eyes are now on next weekend’s home match against Kings Langley, which will be played in front of our co-owners, the Winklevoss twins, as they attend their first game in Bedford.
A victory against the visitors, who beat the Pirates in the reverse fixture, will mathematically secure the league title.
After the win at Aylesbury, Sinclair said:
“Really good performance again – first half we completely dominated, took our goals well and then the second half becomes a non-event really, the game was over.
“Really happy with the performance, the intensity, and the energy levels that the boys played at was superb and we got our rewards.
(On the match against Kings Langley next Saturday) - “It’s a big day for Pete and the football club in terms of the event that he puts on. We’re expecting a big crowd, and we’ll prepare properly on Tuesday and Thursday.”
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, Richardson, Longden (T. Ward 79’), Watkins (Hitchcock 69’), Jones (Nicolson 65’), Galliford (Agemoh-Davies 65’), Setchell (Snelus 69’), Stevens, Evans (Hitchcock 79’).
Aylesbury United 1-4 Real Bedford
5th April, 2025
Kick-off: 3pm
Location: The Meadow
