Real Bedford were back to their goalscoring best on Saturday (28 December) as they hit five past Barton Rovers to keep pace with Southern League Central Division One leaders, Berkhamsted.
A brace from Joey Evans alongside goals for captain, Lee Watkins, Eniola Agemoh-Davies and Isaac Galliford secured the 5-1 victory that keeps them four points off the top, and nine points clear of sixth-placed, Thame in the race for the play-offs.
After Boxing Day’s tight 1-0 victory against AFC Dunstable, Real Bedford will need to keep winning to hang on to the coattails of an impressive Berkhamsted side and they did that with ease in front of over 500 fans at the Ledger Stadium.
Read: Evans winner helps Real Bedford squeeze past AFC Dunstable
Unlike the Boxing Day encounter, the game against fourth-placed Rovers was in Real’s hands after just ten minutes.
Evans in fine form
Lee Watkins opened the scoring for the Pirates after just five minutes, poking home after Stotfold failed to clear their lines, before Joey Evans continued his fine form with his third goal in three games since returning from injury.
The Real number nine was quick to pounce on an awful back pass from the visiting defence to steal in and calmly slot home to put Rob Sinclair’s side in a commanding position with barely double digits on the clock.
They went into the break with that two goal advantage and coasting, but while Real have enjoyed an excellent season so far, perhaps one criticism is that they have tended to take their foot off the gas when they’re comfortable.
John Shamalo was on hand just four minutes into the second half to halve the deficit and bring Barton back into the game with his 10th league goal of the season, but ten minutes later, Evans was on hand again to continue his comeback.
An excellent pass on the left flank from Ty Ward released Evans who cut inside and fired home to restore the two-goal advantage, and this time Real did not look back.
Further strikes from Eniola Agemoh-Davies and a pinpoint Isaac Galliford free kick in injury time secured the thrashing, now leaving Barton Rovers ten points adrift of the table toppers.
“We’re in a good place”
“They were the in-form side in the league, and they’re a good team but they couldn’t live with our intensity today. If we keep doing that, we know we’ve got the ruthlessness to score goals, we’ll be in a good place”, said manager, Rob Sinclair after the game.
“It was a great performance. Considering the quick turnaround, the intensity and the energy the boys played at was great to see and we’re really happy with the win.
“It was really good to see the crowd in, good support from us and Barton travelled well as well so hopefully with the performance, the newbies will come back again!”
The games continue to come thick and fast, and Real Bedford are back at the Ledger Stadium on New Year’s Day as they host struggling Stotfold, looking to close the four point gap on Berkhamsted, who they face on 14 January.
