Real Bedford Put Seven Past Sawbridgeworth
Real Bedford returned to league action at McMullen Park with a bang, putting seven past Sawbridgeworth on a scorching September afternoon.
The Pirates took control of the game right from the off, adapting to the conditions well and ensuring Sawbridgeworth could not get a goal throughout the 90 minutes.
Within 5 minutes, Bedford had their first chance, Sawbridgeworth midfielder Cormack Clarke playing a poor pass on halfway, which was snapped up by Mo Ahmed, who drove towards the penalty area. Joey Evans retrieved possession before knocking it to Ben Stevens, who found Archie Jones with a delicate touch out wide. However, Jones could not find the target to make it goals in successive games.
In a man-of-the-match performance, Ahmed was through again moments later, this time in a more threatening position. Charlie Smith finding a pass upfield to Ahmed, which was not dealt with by Sawbridgeworth, meant that the winger had a one-on-one with George Edgeworth. Ahmed made no mistake slotting the ball past the keeper to give Bedford the lead.
Another chance went begging 10 minutes later for Archie Jones. This time, it was a drawback from Joey Evans, who found the midfielder in open space on the edge of the area, but his effort was palmed away by Edgeworth, leaving the score at 1-0.
Sawbridgeworth were soon testing at the other end of the pitch, a rogue pass from Tom Wood finding Michael Ebelebe, who played in Jayden Charles, one-on-one with McGregor. However, the keeper came out quickly to smother the danger and get his hands on the ball.
Moments later, Bedford found themselves up the other end. Great interplay between Wood, Stevens and Corbit found the right back in space down the right flank. His pass across the face of the goal found Evans, who was able to tap it home to extend The Pirates’ lead and his impressive goal tally this season.
Seconds after the restart, Bedford was in again. Evans, this time in a deeper role, played a perfectly weighted lobbed ball over the top of the Sawbridgeworth defence to find Ben Stevens, who smashed it home on the half-volley in fine fashion to further the Real lead.
Evans then had a few chances in quick succession, both saved by George Edgeworth, as the striker couldn’t find his second goal of the game with the clock ticking in the first half. Then, right on the half-time whistle, Charlie Smith was given the chance to stand over a tempting free-kick on the edge of the area that took all of Edgeworth’s skill to keep out with the goalie at full stretch to deny the set-piece specialist from scoring in the top right.
Second Half
Five minutes into the second period, The Pirates scored their first goal of the second half. Smith found Evans, who, on the turn, evaded the Sawbridgeworth defence and scored in the bottom right to bag another brace.
Two minutes later, Bedford produced another well-worked goal. Luke Knight played a perfect ball off the outside of his foot down the left flank to Mo Ahmed, who progressed towards the byline before playing it back to Eddie Corbit, who stroked it home for his second goal in as many games.
Bedford would take 20 minutes to find the back of the net again. Joe Cloake’s shove on Eddie Corbit in the area was deemed a foul by the referee, and it was the turn of Luke Knight to put away the penalty kick and make it six on the day for Real Bedford.
The final goal came in a more unorthodox fashion. With 5 minutes left on the clock, Claston Gordon made a darting run down the right-hand side of the field before putting in a well-placed cross, which was deflected off the leg of Sawbridgeworth’s Freddie Griffiths and into the back of the net, rounding off a perfect day in the sun for The Pirates.
Bedford are back in action against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos tonight before returning to McMullen Park to face St. Panteleimon FC on Saturday. Get your tickets here.
RBFC: McGregor, Corbit (Gordon 71), Burgess, Wood, Knight (c), Smith, Stevens, Watkins, Evans, Jones (Setchell 56'), Ahmed
Unused Subs: J.Ducket, Steele, Bozward
Real Bedford 7 - 0 Sawbridgeworth Town
9th September, 2023
Kick-off: 3pm
Location: McMullen Park
