Real Bedford confirmed their status as the best side in Southern League Central Division One, eventually overcoming Leighton Town 4-1 at Bell Close, adding to their monumental goal count in the process.
Rob Sinclair’s side were made to wait for their win, with late second half goals for Joey Evans, Ben Stevens and Archie Jones after a wonderful Drew Richardson strike was cancelled out in the first half.
Leighton Town had threatened to make a late play-off charge with nine straight victories throughout February and March, but April has been less kind to them with back-to-back defeats derailing any hopes of promotion.
Real Bedford, now 13 points clear at the top of Southern League Central Division One, secured the league title at the Ledger Stadium last weekend with a nervy 1-0 win against Kings Langley.
Read: Evans penalty seals Real Bedford’s third straight league title
It essentially made this tie a dead rubber, although Real Bedford do have the target of a century of points to reach, and they are now just two short after a late surge of goalscoring helped them past Leighton on Saturday.
It took some time for the game to spark into life after Leighton Town had given Real Bedford a now customary guard of honour, but a moment of magic lit the blue touch paper.
Drew Richardson’s effort from thirty yards gave Real the lead in classy fashion, although the hosts hit back just sixty seconds later as Godlove Oppong latched on to a through ball to slot past McGregor in the Real goal to restore parity at the break.
Leighton Town are just one of two sides to have kept Real Bedford out all season, with a commendable rear-guard effort at the Ledger Stadium back in November’s stalemate, although they spent a lot of the second period on the front foot in this one.
Read: Real Bedford miss last minute penalty in Leighton Town deadlock
However, like on many occasions during this successful campaign, Real Bedford found a way, and it was a bizarre moment that would give them the goal needed for victory.
Moments after Fabio Silvestri had hit the post for Leighton, the ball went up the other end and it looked as if another Real attack had been snuffed out, only for goalkeeper George Rose to strike his clearance against an unexpecting Joey Evans.
The ball subsequently rolled into the back of the net for what will surely be one of Evans’ easier goals this season.
That moment seemed to take the stuffing out of Leighton Town who would go on to concede twice more. The first came via a beautiful Ben Stevens free-kick, after earlier having an effort ruled out, before Archie Evans made it four at the back post.
The 4-1 victory takes Real Bedford to 98 points, with games against AFC Dunstable and Thame United to come, as preparations behind the scenes already begin to take place ahead of a step three campaign next season.
Real Bedford host AFC Dunstable at the Ledger Stadium on Easter Monday (21 April).
