Birthday boy, Archie Jones and Josh Allen were both on the scoresheet for the second time in four days as Real Bedford secured back-to-back away Southern League victories with a 2-0 win at struggling Barwell.
Both Jones and Allen were in the goals on Tuesday night in a 3-1 victory at AFC Sudbury, and their good form continued into the weekend’s fixtures with Real Bedford climbing to fifth in Southern League Premier Central.
The two attackers were also both on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture in October, in which Real Bedford inexplicably threw away a two-goal lead the Ledger Stadium to drop two points, but they were not in danger of repeating the trick this time.
Read: Real Bedford blow two goal lead to draw against Barwell
While Barwell had their chances, especially in frantic nature at the end of the first half, Real Bedford were often in control of the game which largely went to form.
Both sides traded half chances in the first half an hour, with Jones and Josh Setchell both seeing efforts kept out in impressive fashion by Finn Osborne in the home goal, but it wasn’t long before Jones would score the game’s opening goal on his birthday.
Conor Tee’s good work in the left channel allowed him to fashion open just enough space to find Jones who nodded home at the second time of asking in what would eventually become the winner.
Barwell’s best period of the match came in the final five minutes of the first half, with Real keeper Craig King forced to tip a Rhys Kelly header over the crossbar, before pulling off a fine double save to keep his clean sheet intact.
Desperate defending from amber shirts were also key in keeping Barwell out, and despite Drew Richardson hitting the post in the final act of the half, the whistle was a blessing for Rob Sinclair and his men as they went into half-time one goal to the good.
In-form Allen seals three points
Further chances in the second half fell to the likes of Ben Stevens and Jack Morrell, while Barwell’s best chance fell to Anthony Dwyer whose efforts was touched on to the post by King.
Kane Richards and Zayn Hakeem were also denied by a stubborn Real defence, before the killer blow came in the 86th minute.
Josh Allen found himself with a foot of space on the edge of the area, which allowed him to cut inside on his left foot and curl a powerful effort into the left bottom corner to seal all three points for Real Bedford.
Jevin Seaton had the ball in the net for Barwell late on, but he was denied by an offside flag as Craig King and the defence in front of him deservedly held on for a first clean sheet since the 1-0 win at Bury Town on 18 November.
The 2-0 win injects some much needed momentum into Real’s stop start winter so far, and they’ll be hoping to make it three wins on the bounce as they catch up on one of many games in hand against another struggling side on Tuesday night (20 January) in Bromsgrove Sporting.
