Real Bedford battled to a point in one of their longest away trips of the season on Tuesday night (12 August) as they played out an energy-sapping 0-0 stalemate at last season’s relegated National League North club, Needham Market.
The goalless draw leaves Rob Sinclair’s side with a win and a draw in the very early stages of the new Southern League Premier Central season but represents a good start to a tricky block of opening league fixtures.
Manager, Sinclair praised his team after a physical battle against a “very, very good Spalding side” on Saturday (9 August), and he was once again largely complimentary of his men who had to defend resolutely against the Marketmen who played in the sixth tier of English football last season.
Read: Real Bedford come from behind to open Southern League season with victory
Needham Market, who were one of four sides relegated comfortably from National League North in 2024/25 and lost their opening game 4-0 away at Harborough Town, began the game on the front foot, seeing a 35-yard free kick from Reggie Lambe sail over.
Luke Ingram and striker, Joe Neal also had chances in a first half devoid of openings for Real, before Kieran Morphew had a goal disallowed from a corner on the half hour mark and then saw another header tipped over the bar by Tyler McGregor in the Pirates goal.
Real Bedford’s opportunities were restricted to the second period, when James Bradbrook in the home goal was on hand with an excellent double save to deny Josh Setchell and then Joey Evans, who was looking for a third goal in two games.
Late efforts from Setchell and Ben Stevens were also denied as Real finished strongly, but they were left to bring a point back to Bedfordshire, seeing them slot in in mid-table after two rounds of the Southern League.
“Sometimes in this league you’ve got to take a 0-0 draw away from home at a tough place like this,” said player of the match, Sam Cartwright after another busy ninety minutes for one of Real Bedford’s new signings.
“They lost 4-0 at the weekend and we expected a reaction so we had to grind it out and take a point, so we’ll regroup ahead of Saturday”, added the centre back who joined from Spalding United in the summer.
“When you come away from home against good sides, you’ve got to be able to defend but we gave them the opportunity to attack with our sloppy possession so we need to be neater with that, and maybe we won’t have to defend as much,” added manager, Rob Sinclair.
“It’s a tough place to come and ultimately we had to put bodies on the line so we’re pleased with the clean sheet away from home.”
Kettering Town and Bishop’s Stortford lead the way with two wins from two, as Real Bedford face another tough trip to last season’s losing play-off semi-finalists, Halesowen Town on Saturday (16 August), before hosting Kettering the following weekend.
