Real Bedford’s perfect start to the Southern League Premier Central season continued on Tuesday night (22 September) as they battled back from a goal down to defeat Stourbridge 4-1.
Jordan Ponticelli, Josh Allen, Ben Stevens and man of the match, Conor Tee scored the goals as the Pirates maintain their three point advantage at the top of the table having not dropped a single point.
League action has been relegated to Tuesday nights for the coming fortnight as FA Cup and FA Trophy ties take centre stage on Saturdays, but the midweek trip to the West Midlands didn’t perturb Rob Sinclair’s men as they clinically took their chances.
Real remain top of the league, three points clear of probable title challengers, Bromsgrove Sporting and fast-starting, Bury Town, scoring 26 league goals in the process.
Two minute double salvo
When Ben Stevens hit the post after just three minutes of play, many may have been expecting the pattern of the match to be set in stone, but it was the hosts who took the lead after 18 minutes.
Craig King made a solid save from Dom Lewis, but Stourbridge were ahead soon after as Charlie Wragg latched on to the end of a cross from Jai Verma to poke home the game’s opening goal.
Real were not helped by a forced early change as Sam Collins went off injured, to be replaced by Jack Morrell, while back-to-back saves from King stopped the Glassboys from doubling their advantage.
Those saves would turn out to be vital as Real went on to score twice in as many minutes towards the end of the first period.
Jordan Ponticelli was the man to grab the equaliser, poking home a Conor Tee cross at the front post, before Josh Allen turned the game on its head with his ninth goal of the season.
Rob Sinclair’s men experienced a far more comfortable second half as they added two further goals to an already burgeoning Southern League tally.
Stevens saw two efforts tipped over the crossbar by Aston Villa loanee goalkeeper, Blade Earley, while Stourbridge saw a vociferous penalty shout for handball waved away.
That was as good as it got for Scott Adey-Linforth’s side as they conceded two late goals that put the tie to bed.
Drew Richardson and Josh Allen saw further efforts saved by Earley, but the third goal was not long in coming as Tee again provided the assist, allowing Stevens to tap home the goal that gave Real a much-needed two-goal cushion.
The fourth was scored by a deserving Tee, adding a goal to a hat trick of assists as Stevens turned provider to set up the winger for a simple finish.
Cup action returns to the Ledger Stadium on Saturday (26 September) as Real welcome Isthmian League side, Wingate and Finchley to the town in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
It’s the first of two consecutive trips to Bedford for the north Londoners, who will face Bedford Town in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup at The Eyrie the following week after they beat Lee Bircham’s Hemel Hempstead Town 2-1 in a replay.
