Two second half goals for Bedford Town striker, Callum Ebanks helped Bedford Town to a 4-2 county cup semi-final win against Biggleswade Town on Tuesday night (10 February), helping them to a potential Bedfordshire Cup final showdown with neighbours, Real Bedford.
Real Bedford face Leighton Town in the second semi-final on a date yet to be determined, but if the Eagles’ neighbours get through that game, it will set up an historic first meeting between the two sides since the takeover of the old Bedford FC in April 2022.
Read: Peter McCormack becomes Chairman as he completes Bedford FC takeover
The semi-final turned from a dour affair into an entertaining one, as all six goals came in the second half with Southern League Division One Central side, Biggleswade Town causing Lee Bircham’s step two team a pair of scares.
The home side had the best of a first half of few clear cut chances, with Biggleswade keeper Jack Berman called into action, first from Ryan Cole before denying Jevani Brown with an excellent double save.
Biggleswade chances in the first period were from distance, although Rohan Luthra was forced into a save late on, denying Harrison Rookard, making sure the first half ended goalless.
Two late goals secure final berth
The flood of goals came in the second half, but it was Biggleswade Town who would put the cat amongst the pigeons by taking an early lead.
It came from former Bedford Town man, Ethan Steele who curled an effort over Luthra from the corner of the area, but that lead lasted just seven minutes as the Eagles were given a penalty after Greg Sandiford was tripped by Rookard in the area.
Callum Ebanks sent Berman the wrong way from the penalty spot to level it up.
Within three minutes, the tables were turned as Ryan Cole gave Bedford Town a 2-1 advantage with a smart header, but the game was quickly back level as Rookard made amends for giving away the penalty with an equaliser for Biggleswade after 67 minutes.
That was the last cheer they would get however, as two late goals ensured Bedford Town reached their first county cup final since their penalty shoot-out loss against Leighton Town in April 2022.
Ebanks was the man who scored the winner, rising highest to nod home a Josh Dawodu cross, while Ellis Brown put the icing on the cake with a fourth in the final minute of injury time to secure a 4-2 win that takes the Eagles to the county’s showpiece final.
It could have been more for Bedford Town; Callum Ebanks missed out on a hat-trick when he raced clear with the Biggleswade half to himself late on, while Berman was on hand to again deny a stinging Jevani Brown effort.
Whether they will face their neighbours for the first time since McCormack’s Bitcoin-inspired takeover remains to be seen, with the Pirates fixture schedule building fast after a spate of postponements in recent weeks due to wet weather.
Bedford Town are back in National League North action on Saturday (14 February) as they make the trip to South Wales to face third placed, Merthyr Town, while Real Bedford host Stratford Town in the step below on the same day.
