Real Bedford comfortably saw off struggling Northwood 5-0 at the Ledger Stadium on Saturday (15 March) ahead of a title-deciding clash against Berkhamsted next weekend.
The gap between the two remains at three points in favour of Real Bedford, who also have the advantage of a game in hand, and victory for Rob Sinclair’s men next Saturday will surely leave Berkhamsted with too much to do in this intriguing title race.
In an odd turn to the fixture list, Berkhamsted were also in action a mere 100 yards away, as they faced Biggleswade FC at The Eyrie, coming out on top 2-1 although by the time their win was secured, Real were well on the way to their own.
Out of sight
A lot of Real’s games have ended up being a challenge in breaking the opposition down, but that task was completed inside three minutes on this occasion as Josh Setchell opened the scoring.
Drew Richardson powered a ball into the enigmatic Ben Stevens whose delicious flick found Josh Setchell cutting in from the right wing, going on to power the ball inside the near post.
From there, the game became a procession; Galliford’s volley flew over before Archie Jones had a couple of efforts denied by former Bedford Town shot stopper, Aymen Azaze although it wasn’t long before the Northwood keeper was picking the ball out of the net again.
Stevens’ cross was deflected up into the air and found Archie Jones at the near post to tap home, before Joey Evans made it three from the penalty spot shortly after, also bringing up the century of goals for Real in the league this season.
Jones was once again in the thick of the action, going down after a push in the back by Jayden Ashbourne, with the number nine back on the scoresheet after sending Azaze the wrong way from twelve yards.
Nnaemeka Aanyanwu skewed wide in what was Northwood’s only shot in the first half, and one of just three altogether, as the struggling visitors barely laid a glove on McGregor in the home goal.
When Jones was on hand to nod home a fourth before half-time, albeit at the second time of asking, Real Bedford were coasting home to a seventh consecutive league victory.
Subdued second half
With the three points in the bag, the second half became a muted affair as the game resembled a glorified training exercise instead of a competitive non-league football match.
The loudest cheer post 4pm came from the stands from both grounds as Biggleswade FC equalised against Berkhamsted, although Setchell was on hand to give Real fans something to cheer on their side of the fence as he scored his brace after 50 minutes.
Jones could have gone down again in the penalty area under contact, but the ball rolled to Setchell who proceeded to lift it into the top corner for Real’s fifth and final goal of the game.
The rest of the encounter was fairly nondescript; Azaze saved well at point blank range from an Evans header before Northwood planted a couple of shots wide at the other end, but the fact they didn’t register a shot on target all game showed the gulf in class.
McGregor again cut a lonely figure in the Real goal, although he did save a weak Jon-Jo Bates effort late on that was heading wide anyway, but another clean sheet adds to his already impressive record between the sticks.
For Real Bedford, challenges will surely come more difficult than this in the closing weeks of the campaign, beginning with their biggest game of the season to date against chasing Berkhamsted on 22 March at Broadwater.
With this win comes confirmation of a play-off spot at the minimum for Real Bedford, but all sights are on top spot.
Victory will leave Real with one hand on a third successive league title, while a Berkhamsted win would open up the title race once more, producing an enticing and pressure-filled final month in the eighth tier.
