Real Bedford confirmed third place in Southern League Premier Central after Josh Allen’s 93rd minute winner secured an entertaining 3-2 win against Alvechurch at the Ledger Stadium on Saturday (18 April).
Allen scored a brace, along with another goal for Ben Stevens as Rob Sinclair’s side prepare for a play-off campaign, with the winner gaining a place in the National League.
Real needed just a point to make certain of their third place finish, although it would have needed an almighty goal difference swing to change it, but the Pirates put it beyond doubt on Saturday with victory over Alvechurch.
They will go on to host the team who finish fourth in Southern League Premier Central, currently a position held by Needham Market with a single game to go.
Early chances were traded between Bedford’s Archie Jones and Emmanuel Ilesanmi, while Jones also hit the post after 25 minutes, but eight minutes before half-time, Real took the lead.
Josh Allen was on hand to smash home Conor Tee’s goal bound effort to put the home side in the ascendency, but they didn’t go into half-time in front, as Alvechurch equalised in the fifth minute of added time.
Moments after Jessy Bavanganga had headed wide for the visitors, Ilesanmi was on hand to take advantage of a second clear cut chance in as many minutes to level the scores at the interval.
Allen strikes late
Knowing a point would be enough, Rob Sinclair will have sent his players out in the mindset of gaining a confidence-boosting victory with a tough play-off campaign on the horizon, and eventually that is what they secured.
Ben Stevens put the home side in front shortly before the hour mark, slotting through the legs of Alvechurch keeper, Redman Evans but they would need Allen’s late intervention to gain all three points as Alvechurch came roaring back.
Callum Powell was denied in smart fashion by Craig King in the home goal, while Shaheim Ward also cleared another effort off the line as Alvechurch searched for an equaliser that would finally come in the 82nd minute.
Jez Abbey, who had scored the winner off the bench against Royston last weekend, was again in the goals as his neat finish looked to have gained a point for Alvechurch, whose good form throughout March and into April have helped them out of a relegation fight.
It was not to be enough for the visitors, as a unique piece of skill from Allen provided a dramatic conclusion.
Conor Tee’s cross was dummied by Tom Hitchcock, and it fell to Allen who flicked it over his head before firing into the bottom corner to provide a fitting finale to an entertaining affair.
The 3-2 win – Real’s 22nd of the season – means their final game at Bromsgrove Sporting will be mere preparation for the play-offs and a dead rubber, with Bromsgrove ensuring they avoided relegation with a 2-1 away win at Stratford.
That game takes place at 3pm on Saturday, 25 April ahead of the long-awaited play-offs.
