Former Bedford Town striker, Leon Lobjoit scored one of two goals as Southern League Premier Central title favourites, Kettering Town beat ten-man Real Bedford 2-0 in front of a larger than usual crowd at the Ledger Stadium.
Lobjoit, who led the line to help Bedford Town win this division last season, returned next door for new club in Kettering and scored the first of two goals as the Poppies comfortably saw off the Pirates, with Alfie Lewis scoring the second.
Real Bedford were also reduced to ten men in the second half as Archie Jones was sent off for two bookable offences, en route to Rob Sinclair’s men losing back-to-back league games.
Kettering, who lost last year’s play-off final against AFC Telford, are once again favourites to gain promotion and they looked every bit title challengers as they controlled large chunks of this game against newly-promoted, Real.
Both sides exchanged early chances, as former Newcastle United striker, Nile Ranger couldn’t scramble home from six yards after six minutes, before Ben Stevens forced Kettering keeper, Jason Alexander into a smart first save.
It wasn’t long before Lobjoit, back on Meadow Lane for the first time since that famous final day at neighbours, Bedford Town broke the deadlock in his own inimitable fashion.
A poor header clear from Sam Cartwright fell to the feet of Lobjoit on the corner of the penalty area, and the number ten drifted inside before curling a fantastic effort off Tyler McGregor’s far post and into the net.
Ranger once again spurned a good opportunity to double the lead, before Conor Tee’s ambitious free kick from distance forced Alexander into another low stop at the other end.
Archie Jones had Real’s best chance of the first half as he scooped over a cross from Tee, but it was one of just a couple of guilt-edged chances that Sinclair’s men could muster as they rarely got through an experienced and physical Kettering back line.
Jones’ red increases challenge
An early header in the second half from Lobjoit floated over, but it took just seven second half minutes for the visitors’ lead to double, and once again, it was off the back of a Real Bedford mistake.
Lee Watkins gave the ball away thirty yards out, and in the blink of an eye, the ball was worked out left to Alfie Lewis who curled a delicious effort past the outstretched palm of McGregor and into the far corner.
Within ninety seconds, the challenge was made all the more difficult as Archie Jones was sent off after a contentious second yellow card in front of the dugouts.
Jones’ sliding tackle on Stanley got the ball, but the referee signalled he didn’t like the follow through, and perhaps with some help from an incensed Kettering bench, went on to show a second yellow card followed by the flash of a red.
It knocked the stuffing out of the Real Bedford effort, and in truth, they were lucky to escape with just a 2-0 defeat as the visitors turned the screw.
Will Glennon, who had joined Bedford Town in the summer only to dump them in favour of Kettering, saw a grass-cutting free kick kept out at his near post by McGregor, before Lobjoit scooped the rebound over from a couple of yards.
Then it was the turn of substitute, Jamar Loza who spurned multiple opportunities to put the game out of sight including one where he rounded an onrushing McGregor only to see his goal bound effort kept out by a sliding Cartwright.
Late chances for Conor Tee and Tom Hitchcock – who arguably had Real’s best chance of the ninety minutes – came and went as Kettering managed the closing stages to secure a 2-0 victory, maintaining their 100% record in the early stages of the new season.
Real Bedford are in 13th on four points.
Punished for errors
Manager, Rob Sinclair aired his disappointment after the game.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed. We made two big errors and we got punished for them. If you make those kinds of mistakes, you’re going to concede goals.
“Apart from that, I thought we were dominant in large spells and created chances, but you’ve got to take your chances and you’ve got to take them against good sides like Kettering.
“Its tough when you go down to ten, but I thought we did well and moved the ball well and created chances, but all in all its a disappointing one, but we move on to Monday.”
The silver lining is that Real Bedford can move on quickly, and they have just over 48 hours to regroup and prepare for a trip to St Ives Town on Monday (25 August), with a kick off time of 3pm.
