Real Bedford have reached the last four of the Bedfordshire FA Senior Cup with an entertaining 3-2 victory at Leighton Town on Tuesday night (10 December), but Bedford Town fell at Barton Rovers.
The Eagles were 2-0 up at half-time and seemingly comfortable but were on the wrong end of a controversial Rovers comeback as the home side prevailed, also by three goals to two.
Real Bedford and Leighton Town have already faced each other twice this season, with Leighton blocking Real out for ninety minutes in their last meeting, but it took just ten minutes for the Pirates to break the deadlock this time.
It was also a familiar combination, with Ben Stevens’ corner meeting the head of Jack Morrell who guided home to give Rob Sinclair’s side the early advantage.
Leighton hit back on the stroke of half time as Godlove Oppong escaped his marker on the edge of the box and fired the ball in to the bottom left hand corner to restore parity.
Callum Nicolson put Real back in front ten minutes into the second half as he found himself on the end of an excellent Isaac Galliford cross, but Leighton hit back once more through captain, Lynton Goss.
It was Galliford who would, eventually, score the winner with ten minutes of normal time remaining despite the best efforts of James Heeps in the Leighton goal, and despite a late chance for the hosts, Real Bedford held on for the win.
“It was a really entertaining game and on balance I think we deserved to win it”, said manager, Rob Sinclair post-game.
“We probably needed to be a bit more ruthless; they came with a different game plan to the 0-0 so we’re a bit more open.
“We had three or four good chances in the first half and then gave away a couple of sloppy goals but we deserved the win.”
Bedford Town blow two goal lead
Taylor Rhiney’s late double for Barton Rovers stunned Bedford Town in the second quarter final, with Bedford Town coasting towards victory after a first half double.
Leon Lobjoit and James Clifton, with his second goal in as many games since joining the Eagles, were able to open up a two-goal advantage over the eighth tier side before the half-time whistle.
Lobjoit opened the scoring after 34 minutes as he found himself on the end of a Simmons assist with Clifton adding the second eight minutes later, thanks in large to a deflection from a Rovers defender.
The Rovers’ comeback started from the penalty spot thanks to John Shamalo before Rhiney struck twice late on, the first from inside the area, before controversy struck.
It seemed to the fans in attendance that Eagles goalkeeper, Dan Green had both hands on the ball but Rhiney pounced anyway before poking home, with the referee allowing the goal to stand.
It completed a remarkable comeback from Barton, who are currently chasing Real Bedford in the play-off spots of Southern League Central Division One, and brings an end to the Bedford Town cup run.
AFC Dunstable cruised past Stotfold, 5-0 in third quarter-final, with the last fixture between Crawley Green and Biggleswade FC set to take place in the new year.
Both Bedford Town and Real Bedford return to Southern League action this Saturday (14 December) as Lee Bircham’s side host struggling Lowestoft Town at The Eyrie in Southern League Premier Central.
Real Bedford will be looking to close the four-point gap on Berkhamsted at the top of Central Division One as they travel to Beaconsfield. Both games kick off at 3pm.
