Real Bedford’s hopes of keeping pace with the higher reaches of Southern League Premier Central took a dent on Saturday (27 December) as they lost their final game of the calendar year 3-1 at home to a clinical St Ives Town at the Ledger Stadium.
Josh Allen’s late goal for Real was a mere consolation as the Pirates conceded three unanswered goals, with Ricky Marheineke’s men providing the perfect rearguard display to inflict Real’s third home league defeat of the season.
In what was just Real’s third game in the whole month of December, with just two of those in the league, it has been a tough ask to keep up matchday fitness, although Rob Sinclair’s men did well to take a point at high-flying Spalding last Saturday.
Read: Real Bedford and Spalding share the spoils in six-goal thriller
St Ives are closer to the relegation fight than the play-off spots, beginning the day in 16th place, but they were clinical when given the opportunity at the Ledger Stadium, making Real Bedford pay for their lack of finishing touch at the other end.
St Ives two up at the break
The first 15 minutes were largely uneventful; a strained penalty shout for Archie Jones was waved away by the referee before the midfielder gained the best chance of the half for the home team, only to see his one-on-one effort deflected wide in impressive fashion by Ollie Taylor in the visiting goal.
St Ives made them pay almost instantly as four minutes later, the visitors were awarded a free kick in the right channel, allowing Liam Cross to whip in a fantastic cross on to the head of Duncan Idehen who powered home a header into the far corner.
Real responded well to going behind, creating a number of chances as the half-time whistle approached.
A solid ten minutes of pressure saw most of the chances fall to playmaker, Ben Stevens who had one shot blocked before sending another better chance over the bar with his back to goal.
Drew Richardson volleyed an effort over from a corner, while Conor Tee also curled a shot wide, but they couldn’t find the back of the net, and again, they were made to pay.
In the first and only minute of first half stoppage time, St Ives managed to escape, and a long range effort form Gibou Njie deflected into the path of the excellent Jahrel McKoy whose follow up crashed back against the post.
The rebound fell to the grateful Theo Alexandrou who proceeded to tap home St Ives’ second to give them a two-goal buffer at the break.
Finishing touches elude the Pirates
Real began the second half well, with Allen and Shaheim Ward efforts kept out by Taylor, while Bedford also struck the woodwork as Archie Jones’ scintillating strike from the edge of the area smashed into the post.
While St Ives also had a penalty shout waved away, they were always keeping Real at arm’s length despite the home side’s increasing possession, but as Bedford continued to pile forward, they were always susceptible on the break.
The clincher came after 83 minutes, as Njie floated a delicious cross to the back post, where it was met by substitute, Ethan Creary who deftly sent the ball back across goal and into the far corner to confirm three points for the Ives.
Allen’s consolation came just four minutes later, but they never looked like making the final moments nervous as St Ives comfortably held on for a deserved 3-1 victory that creates a bit more breathing space between them and the step three relegation zone.
For Real, they still have up to four games in hand over a lot of clubs, but are a full 16 points off leaders, Spalding United, while the likes of Halesowen, Quorn, Needham Market and Redditch continue to pick up points around them.
Rob Sinclair and his coaching staff will be hoping for a response as Real Bedford begin 2026 with a trip to Bishop’s Stortford next Saturday (3 January) before hosting Needham Market on Saturday 10 January.
