Real Bedford are just one game away from the National League after outclassing Kettering Town to win 3-1 in Wednesday night’s Southern League Premier Central play-off semi-final.
Josh Setchell’s goal inside the first minute set the tone for a party atmosphere inside the Ledger Stadium, with Conor Tee’s header and Sam Cartwright’s clincher securing the win, and consigning Kettering Town to a second failed play-off campaign in as many seasons.
Real Bedford will now go on to face Spalding United in Bank Holiday Monday’s play-off final.
For Kettering, they must once again re-group ahead of a third stab at promotion next season, after falling at the final hurdle in 2024/25, losing 4-2 in this division’s play-off final against AFC Telford.
Setchell scores after 31 seconds
Kettering Town had predictably brought a large number of fans to Bedford, but their raucous away following was silenced inside the first minute as Josh Setchell pounced to score after 31 seconds.
Real broke down the left immediately from the kick off, with the ball finding Archie Jones whose shot crashed off the near post, but the rebound fell perfectly into the path of Setchell who proceeded to place it home into the roof of the net.
Centre backs, Drew Richardson and Carl Mensah traded chances soon after; Richardson headed wide, while Mensah’s own header flew narrowly over, before the Bedford Town loanee headed over a better chance from Lewis Coyle’s second corner.
Kettering largely had their man in goal to thank for keeping them in it at various periods throughout the game; an excellent save from Paul White denying a point blank header from Conor Tee maintaining the visitors’ deficit at one as Real continued to press.
A pair of Andi Thanoj shots from distance were the closest Kettering got to levelling in a first period where they failed to gain a single shot on target, as Real took a one goal lead into the changing rooms at half time.
Missed penalty immaterial
Real Bedford should have been home and dry halfway through the second half, but once again saw White keep Kettering in the game with a penalty save that almost proved crucial.
Harvey Peters missed a close range header for the Poppies at the beginning of the second half, and Real made them pay as they doubled their lead on the 50-minute mark.
Ben Weyman played the ball into the path of Setchell in the right channel, and his deep cross to the back post found the head of Tee who couldn’t miss from three yards out.
The game was almost put to bed on the hour mark, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a foul from Blaine Rowe on Tee in the area, but White once again stood tall to deny Josh Allen from 12 yards.
It led to a resurgence from Kettering, and Liam McDonald’s side halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining, as Eddie Panter once again found the back of the net to set up a tantalising finale.
Another excellent save from White denied Jack Davies on the volley shortly after, but Real’s victory was clinched from the resulting corner as Sam Cartwright smuggled it home from the floor at the second attempt.
It knocked the last remaining wind out of the Kettering sails, leaving Real looking more likely to score again in the closing stages, and although late chances went astray, they were not to care as the full time whistle blew on a 3-1 victory.
Rob Sinclair’s men go on to face Spalding United in Bank Holiday Monday’s play-off final after Yusifu Ceesay’s only goal saw them beat Halesowen Town 1-0 in the other semi-final.
Spalding will have home advantage courtesy of finishing second during the league season, ahead of Real Bedford in third.
The play-off final kicks off at 3pm on Monday, 4 May at the The Sir Halley Stewart Field in Spalding. Tickets will be available from 2pm on Thursday, 30 April via Spalding’s website here.
