A first half penalty from Joey Evans was enough to secure Real Bedford the Southern League Division One Central title on Saturday (12 April); their third straight league success as the Pirates’ surge through the divisions continues to gather pace.
Their 1-0 win against Kings Langley leave them an unassailable 11 points clear of challengers, Berkhamsted with just three games to go, meaning the party will go long into the night as Rob Sinclair’s men secure yet another championship.
It’s been a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ for a while now at Real Bedford, but this league has been won through sheer weight of goals.
Joey Evans – who has scored 34 of their 120 league goals – was the only man on the scoresheet in what was a nervy and cagey affair against a Kings Langley side battling against relegation, but victories will not come sweeter than this.
With the Ledger Stadium stands packed, and by far the biggest crowd of the year of 1,426 filled with fans from home and abroad, Real Bedford set about breaking down the Kings Langley defence, but in truth found little luck until the end of the first half.
Josh Setchell again looked dangerous cutting in off the right flank, but his early cross evaded the onrushing Real attackers, before Henry Dudley had a shot blocked up the other end.
Langley’s, Edu Pendred and Ben Stevens also exchanged snap shots from distance in a first half devoid of clear-cut chances before a dreadful back pass from Lee Watkins inadvertently fed Pendred, only for the Kings striker to skew his effort wide.
It was the closest the opposition would come, before the game’s key moment occurred on the verge of the half time whistle.
Archie Jones careered into the area, only to be tripped by a blue shirt, and it was Joey Evans who immediately grabbed the ball and dispatched the resulting penalty into the side netting for what was ultimately the game’s only goal.
The pattern of the match continued into the second half, and the longer it went on, the more nervy it became although Kings Langley had their keeper, Josh Bowler to thank for keeping them in it.
First, Josh Setchell’s curling effort was expertly tipped on to the post before Jones was denied by a flying one-handed save with the ball destined for the roof of the net late on.
They were the only two gaping chances of a game largely played in midfield and in the air, but Kings Langley rarely threatened to ruin the party. In fact, it was Real Bedford who threatened to score a second.
Eniola Agemoh-Davies and Stevens both had late efforts blocked, but the relief and the celebrations poured out as the referee blew the final whistle after six minutes of injury time, with Real Bedford winning 1-0 and securing the key three points.
The league title victory was made all the more magic by the presence of Real Bedford’s American investors, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who were in Bedford attending Bitcoin’s ‘Cheat Code’ conference led by Real’s chairman, Peter McCormack.
The stars had aligned perfectly for this moment, and despite the cagey nature of the football, the points are all that matters as wild celebrations involving both Cameron and Tyler began, and are sure to continue into the night.
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Manager, Rob Sinclair, who has fronted all three of the successive titles, praised his players on an emotional day.
“It’s incredible, just look at the celebrations!
“I’m really proud of all of them. It was a little bit nervy, a little bit cagey but we were positive at half-time at 1-0 up. We wanted to move the ball quicker, but a game like this is always going to be tense.
“Ultimately, we’ve won the game so I’m really proud and really happy.”
This latest league title is another step in the right direction for Chairman and co-owner, Peter McCormack who has now been front and centre of a club making headlines across the non-league sphere and beyond.
There may be news of a potential merger with the next door neighbours to come, but for now he and his team can celebrate another league title coming back to the town.
What’s more, the celebrations could double up tomorrow, as Real Bedford Women host London Seaward needing just a point to seal their own Women’s National League title.
That game kicks off on Sunday 13 April at 2pm. You can buy tickets for that clash here.
