Real Bedford made their long-awaited return to Southern League action on Saturday (20 December) against Premier Central leaders, Spalding United, drawing 3-3 in an entertaining affair in Lincolnshire.
Josh Allen, Drew Richardson and Ben Stevens goals were not enough to take all three points, but Rob Sinclair’s side will be heartened with a draw against the table toppers away from home in their first game in 11 days.
December has been a frustrating month for Rob Sinclair and his men, for they had not played a single league game before today due to postponements and waterlogged pitches.
Their only game has been a Bedfordshire Cup quarter-final triumph against Biggleswade FC.
Read: Bedford Town and Real Bedford come from behind to beat Biggleswade opposition in County Cup
Their last league game was a full three weeks ago, in which they lost 1-0 at ten-man Leiston. Coupled with cancellations, Real Bedford began the day outside of the play-offs, although they do have four games in hand on teams around them.
Real have already beaten the league leaders this season, beating them 2-1 in the first game of the campaign at the Ledger Stadium, but nothing could separate the two today as the goals flew in at each end.
Josh Allen, who was one of three Real goalscorers, hit the bar in the early stages to set the tone for an enticing encounter, and it was the striker who netted the first after half an hour after capitalising on a mistake by former Bedford Town goalkeeper, Dan Wilks.
The Pirates were heading towards half-time with a valuable one goal lead, but the hosts had other ideas as Yusifu Ceesay found himself in space at the back post to nod into the path of Bartosz Cybulski who scored the first of two eventual goals to equalise a minute before half-time.
Both teams squander leads
Spalding hit the post in the opening minutes of the second period, but were ahead inside 50 minutes after a wonderful run from Jack Roberts led him to feed Alfie Bendle who slotted in between Craig King’s legs to give the league’s front runners the lead.
Back came Real, as five minutes after Archie Jones rattled the woodwork for the second time in the game for the Pirates, Drew Richardson planted home a header from a corner to make it 2-2.
Five minutes later, Bedford were back in front thanks to another majestic strike from the talismanic Ben Stevens, whose effort found the top corner of Wilks’ net, but again, they were unable to hold on to the advantage.
Josh Setchell could have sewn up the three points, only to see his effort crash off the woodwork yet again, before Cybulski was the beneficiary of another Ceesay assist to bring the game level for the final time at 3-3.
Late half chances for Stevens and Ben Weyman came to nothing, with an absorbing tie finishing with a point apiece. Spalding remain top by three points over Harborough Town, while Real remain sixth.
Real Bedford return to the Ledger Stadium on Saturday 27 December, as they host St Ives, before tricky looking fixtures against Bishop’s Stortford and Needham Market to kick off the new year.
