Two late goals from Welwyn Garden City saw Real Bedford fall to their first league defeat of the season in Southern League Central Division One as the Pirates lost out 2-1 at the Ledger Stadium.
Isaac Galliford’s first goal for Real looked to have given Bedford a third league win in three before two strikes in quick succession from captain, Bradley Wadkins and Bailey Stevenson stole all three points for the visitors.
Welwyn had the better of the opening stages without fashioning any real chances; the first of which came for the home side as Josh Setchell was released down the right wing only to slice a shot wide.
Up the other end, Welwyn had their first shot on goal courtesy of Stevenson, before the game’s first big opportunity came for Ben Stevens of Real who latched on to a through ball from Galliford only to hit it straight at Poku in the visitors’ goal.
Both sides would go into the break at 0-0 despite Galliford’s crisp low drive getting cleared off the line for the home side as well as an opening for Lee Watkins whose effort sailed over.
Drew Richardson and Jacques Kpohomouh also had snap shots but failed to trouble the goalkeeper in an even opening period.
The second half started in the same vain as the first as both teams battled it out in midfield, saving all three of the game’s goals for the final third of the game.
It was Real Bedford who took the lead; Josh Setchell once again finding space down the right wing and his cross-cum-shot fell to the feet of Galliford who managed to squeeze the ball home via a maroon shirt.
The Pirates almost made it two via the exact same method, Setchell now with the ball at his feet at every opportunity and Jed Ejjayha was lucky not to slice the ball into his own net, instead seeing it sail over his own crossbar.
Double whammy for Welwyn
Up until the 70-minute mark, Welwyn had barely registered a shot on target, but when Brett Longden was dispossessed in a dangerous area, allowing Henry Jones a chance that flew wide, it gave the away side instant belief.
An acrobatic effort from Jones flew over Tyler McGregor’s crossbar in the Real goal shortly after and when Stevenson’s lobbed volley drifted just wide, the warning signs were flashing for Rob Sinclair’s men.
Sure enough, moments later, Welwyn had their equaliser; Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo’s cross finding Wadkins on the penalty spot to slot home a simple finish before they hit Real with the ultimate sucker punch.
The Welwyn winner came from a Real free kick; taken quickly but with Joey Evans unaware the ball had been played to him, a City defender stepped in to hit a speculative ball up field, flying perfectly into the path of Stevenson who nodded home past an onrushing McGregor.
It was a bizarre goal but Welwyn would not care as they closed out the game to secure three points and two wins from their two league games so far.
Real are still sitting pretty in the top half in these early stages of the season and return to the Ledger Stadium next Saturday to host North Leigh, while Welwyn travel to title favourites, Berkhamsted.
