Five second half goals move the Pirates to the top of the table
By Will Murray
Real Bedford moved to the top of the Southern League Division One Central table with a 5-1 win against Berkhamsted, who were down to 10 men after thier keeper, Josh Bowler was sent off early in the second half. Josh Setchell, Joey Evans, Ben Stevens, Eniola Agemoh-Davies and Callum Nicolson scored the goals for the Pirates to move two points clear of the visitors.
Chris Devane’s side were set up in a well-drilled, compact shape in the first half, making it difficult for the hosts to create any clear-cut chances. It was a feisty affair, with three yellow cards in the first 45 minutes.
Bedford came closest to scoring when Stevens’ cross on the right wing found its way to Brett Longden at the backpost, but he couldn’t get enough power on his header from close range.
Berkhamsted provided a threat on the counter attack throughout, with new signing Connor Tomlinson combining well with Jonathan Lacey. The latter shot just wide of Tyler McGregor’s post in the 25th minute after a one-two with Tomlinson, which was the Comrades’ best chance in the opening 45.
With neither side able to find the breakthrough, it was set for an important second half in the league’s title race.
Second Half
Three minutes after the break, Longden sent through Setchell, who tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper Josh Bowler. Setchell was fouled by the Berkhamsted shot stopper outside the box, who was deemed to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity by the referee, leading to the referee sending him off.
Bedford used their man advantage to dominate the second half and broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Shaheim Ward’s through ball found Setchell, who fired the ball under the goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, the hosts earned a penalty when Isaac Galliford was pulled back in the box. Joey Evans clinically put the ball into the bottom right corner to double Bedford’s lead.
Rob Sinclair’s side had chances to put the game to bed with Evans striking the post and Setchell coming agonisingly close to doubling his tally – dragging his shot wide after he was sent through on goal.
In the 85th minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Tomlinson was pulled down in the box. Tom Newman slotted the ball past McGregor, setting up a grandstand finish.
Berkhamsted threatened to equalise and came close to scoring after a flurry of set pieces, but Bedford stood firm and put the game beyond the visitors in the fourth minute of added time. Stevens received the ball from Agemoh-Davies before driving the ball into the bottom left corner to send the keeper the wrong way.
This wasn’t the end of the goal action, though. A minute later, Agemoh-Davies was sent through on goal and slotted the ball home. Nicolson then added a fifth in the eighth minute of added time, arriving from the edge of the box to tuck away a parried shot from the Berkhamsted goalkeeper.
After the match, Setchell said:
“I think we made it a little more difficult than we should have in the second half but once we got a foothold in the game, it was just domination by the end.”
The Pirates are next at home on Saturday 18th January, facing Leverstock Green in the league. Tickets for the match are available here
RBFC: McGregor, Morrell, S.Ward, Londgen, Richardson, Watkins, Nicolson, Stevens, Galliford (Agemoh-Davies 85’), Setchell, Evans (Hitchcock 96’).
Unused subs: Mumford, Soile, Knight
Real Bedford 5 - 1 Berkhamsted
14th January, 2025
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Location: Ledger Stadium
HIGHLIGHTS
