Real Bedford bounced back from defeat in style on Saturday afternoon in smashing eight past a beleaguered North Leigh side at the Ledger Stadium in Southern League Central Division One.
Joey Evans scored a hat-trick to return to goalscoring form alongside a brace for Tom Hitchcock, while strikes from the enigmatic Ben Stevens, Eddie Corbit and new signing, Ty Ward completed a resounding victory for the Pirates.
The only aspect of this game that was close were the choice of kits; Real Bedford’s home strip alarmingly similar to the yellow of North Leigh but the comparisons ended there as Real set about dominating from start to finish.
Despite the final 8-0 scoreline, Rob Sinclair’s team only went into the break with a one goal advantage after the excellent Eniola Agimoh-Davies sprinted clear down the left hand side and squared for Joey Evans to tap home the first of his three for the afternoon.
Evans had missed a glorious chance to open the scoring just moments earlier, while Jack Morrell also missed a golden opportunity in a first half that saw shots rain down on Monty Marriott’s goal.
Chances came and went for Josh Setchell, Drew Richardson and Agimoh-Davies, who rounded the keeper only to see his shot blocked on the line at the end of a first half Real had controlled.
Kyle Chester’s skewed volley wide was just one of two shots on goal that North Leigh managed all game and summed up a dismal afternoon for the division’s bottom side.
Real run riot
A 1-0 scoreline in any game is dangerous territory, but it wasn’t long before the game was out of sight for the visitors.
The always dangerous Ben Stevens doubled the lead after forcing his way through two North Leigh defenders to calmly slot home in the bottom corner before Setchell turned provider for Evans to guide home his second.
Further efforts from Evans and Agimoh-Davies were kept out before the latter eventually gained an assist after nifty footwork in the box left him with a simple pass to substitute, Tom Hitchcock who tapped into an empty net.
A rare foray forward for the visitors ended in a free kick that was awkwardly smuggled on to the post by Tyler McGregor, but otherwise North Leigh were not about to trouble the Real shot stopper.
Evans gained a well-deserved hat trick after 83 minutes, lobbing a stranded Marriott and another substitute in Ty Ward made it six with a similar finish on the stroke of ninety minutes.
There was still time for more as Eddie Corbit scored a rare goal off the bench while Hitchcock completed the rout deep into added time with perhaps the best goal of the game, as he brought down a high ball and, again, lifted it over Marriott for eight.
Poor North Leigh face long season
It’s now four defeats in four games for a North Leigh side who are a far cry from the club who spent a lot of last season as title challengers in the eighth tier.
A mid-season exodus scuppered any hope of promotion in 2023/24, and they look like a club still on a rebuilding mission as they folded easily to a slick and confident Real Bedford team who sit in second behind Flackwell Heath who have a 100% record.
There will be tougher challenges for Rob Sinclair’s team this campaign but after a disappointing loss to Welwyn last weekend, this provided a perfect chance for a positive response that was duly delivered.
Sinclair will also be relieved to see Evans back in the goalscoring charts and they, along with the rest of the Southern League, have a quick turnaround as Real Bedford travel to winless Stotfold on Bank Holiday Monday.
