Real Bedford scored three second half goals in eventually dispatching struggling AFC Sudbury 4-1 at the Ledger Stadium on Saturday (31 January), rising to third in Southern League Premier Central.
Shaheim Ward’s first half goal was supplemented by a Ben Stevens strike and a Josh Allen penalty, whilst an unfortunate own goal gave the hosts a second half lead they would never give up.
Despite Real dominating a lot of the possession for much of the encounter, the final scoreline was harsh on a Sudbury side who enjoyed pockets of pressure throughout the match, which swung on a chaotic five-minute period in the second half.
The visitors started much the better; perhaps a symptom of a lack of game time for Real Bedford, who were playing for the first time in 11 days, as a Marcel Lewis free kick and a stinging effort from Sam Cox both called Bedford keeper, King into action within the first ten minutes.
Real’s first chance came after 20 minutes, and it should have been despatched by former Sudbury man, Josh Allen who sent his effort narrowly past the far post when in on Jack Munson’s goal.
Ward header gives hosts lead
Real Bedford were slowly beginning to dominate proceedings, such is the usual pattern of play for Rob Sinclair’s side against teams struggling towards the bottom end, and their fruitful possession came good three minutes before half-time.
Soon after Conor Tee was denied the simplest of tap-ins by a last gasp block from Harvey Peters, the home side were ahead after excellent interplay from Shaheim Ward and Josh Allen ended with the former powering home a header from four yards.
It gave Real Bedford a deserved if wobbly 1-0 half-time lead, but to their credit, Sudbury continued to try and hit their hosts on the counter, thanks in large to the excellent Liam Pearce and Kian Connolly.
Sudbury hit back
Seven minutes into the second half, Sudbury had their equaliser.
Ben Weyman should have doubled Real’s lead, but skewed his shot wide and Sudbury went up the other end to make good use of a corner routine that proved to be a handful.
Lewis’ corner was nodded on by Peters in the six-yard box, finding Colchester United loanee, Connolly at the back post to side foot it into the net of a beleagured King to restore parity.
The equaliser injected some belief into 21st-placed, Sudbury who were enjoying their best period of the game, although Real Bedford were not denied their own chances, with Munson narrowly stopping Josh Setchell, while Weyman missed another good opportunity.
With an hour on the clock, Sudbury should have been ahead, only to be denied in extraordinary fashion twice.
The build up was once again down the Sudbury right wing, and again came from Marcel Lewis, who found Connolly at the front post only to see his goal bound effort palmed wide from point blank range by King.
From the resulting corner, Sudbury got even closer thanks to a carbon copy of their equaliser, only for Connolly’s effort to rebound off an amber shirt on the goal line.
Real find clinical touch
The two near misses would prove costly for the visitors.
Real Bedford went on the counter attack, first via Drew Richardson and then Tee, who bounded down the left wing and sent in a delicious cross aimed for Setchell at the back post, only for Liam Pearce to get there first, inadvertently diverting it into his own net.
The second goal could have knocked the wind out of Sudbury sails, but they continued to create chances, led by another goal line clearance from Lewis Hilliard, as he blocked Peters’ stabbed effort with his chest.
Only tactical fouls were stopping the visitors get further forward, as Lee Watkins and then Drew Richardson were booked – the latter perhaps controversially so with Lewis almost in on goal – before the game’s clincher came via the calmness of Ben Stevens.
Archie Jones was sent clear down the right wing, and played it inside to Real’s number ten, Stevens who feigned a shot and cut inside, only to let loose at the near post to score Bedford’s third.
The fourth was not long in coming, as the otherwise impressive Munsen rushed out of his goal and brought down Archie Evans in the penalty area, with Josh Allen sending him the wrong way from the spot for his 16th league goal of the season.
It could have been five or six in the end; Tee skewed an excellent chance into the side netting, while Tom Hitchcock was also denied deep into stoppage time, but any further goals would have been very harsh on a Sudbury team who were in the game for the majority.
The 4-1 win leaves Real Bedford third in Southern League Premier Central, 14 points off Spalding, although Real have five games in hand over the league leaders.
Real Bedford are back at the Ledger Stadium on Tuesday (3 February) with a key game against second placed, Harborough Town, looking to close the gap over them to nine points with victory.
