Josh Setchell’s double, including a winner in the 87th minute, gave Real Bedford an away win at Beaconsfield on Saturday (14 December) as the Pirates closed the gap at the top to Berkhamsted to a single point.
Real Bedford still have a game in hand over the Southern League Central Division One leaders, Berkhamsted who did not have a fixture this weekend.
Real are also three points ahead of chasing Flackwell Heath and Barton Rovers, but with two games in hand over the chasing pack.
Fresh off the back of a 3-2 County Cup victory at Leighton Town in midweek, Real Bedford returned to league action for the first time in a fortnight and came out on top against a belligerent Beaconsfield.
It was the hosts who fashioned the first opening of the game and it came courtesy of a wonderful free kick from Akiel Raffie but Tyler McGregor in the Real goal was equal to it.
McGregor was called into action multiple times in a first half that Beaconsfield had the upper hand in, but the Real shot stopper kept the Rams out, with Eli Grant also spurning a chance for Garry Haylock’s team.
Rob Sinclair’s men had missed a couple of half chances themselves, but neither side could break the deadlock as the game remained goalless at the interval.
It would need a brilliant moment to unlock either defence, and on the hour mark, Setchell was on hand to provide it.
Latching on to Isaac Galliford’s through ball, the winger cut back inside and unleashed a curling effort that crashed in off Eddie Brearey’s far post and into the net to give Real the lead.
That goal spurred the home bench into life with a double substitution and with 77 minutes on the clock, Beaconsfield equalised.
Manu Oke-William brought down a cross with ease and smashed home a deserved equaliser for the home team, but they couldn’t hold on until the full-time whistle as Setchell struck again.
Real had missed a couple of big chances, and must have thought it was not to be their day, but up stepped a pairing who have so often dragged Bedford to victories already this campaign.
In the assist column this time was Ben Stevens; the Real number ten showing some trickery in the penalty area to put it on a plate for Setchell to complete his brace and secure another three points for Real Bedford with a 2-1 win.
“The game could have been different”
“We weren’t at our levels that we set in the first half, but credit to the boys in the second half. We upped our levels, moved the ball a lot quicker and we got our rewards in the end”, said manager, Rob Sinclair post-game.
“Speaking to one of the lads walking off, if they punish us in the first half, the game could have been different for them so Tyler [McGregor] kept us in it in those moments, and that’s what he’s there for so well done to Tyler.
“It’s an exciting [festive] period, we have a lot of games coming up and its a busy time and we’ll need the whole squad but its one we’re excited for.”
As is common for football at all levels, the games come thick and fast in the lead up to Christmas and once again, Rob Sinclair will need to be at the forefront of regrouping his men to take on Kings Langley this coming Tuesday (17 December).
Aylesbury United, AFC Dunstable and the aforementioned Barton are also all to come before the clock ticks over to 2025; all teams currently in the top half of the table.
The re-arranged Berkhamsted fixture also takes place on Tuesday 14th January in what is a key passage of fixtures for Real Bedford as they step up their title challenge and the ultimate prize of three successive promotions.
