Real Bedford extended their lead at the top of Southern League Central Division One to four points after two late goals saw them exact revenge over Welwyn Garden City with a 3-1 victory on Saturday (25 January).
Coupled with Berkhamsted’s 2-2 home draw against Leighton Town, Rob Sinclair’s Pirates have now opened up a gap at the top of the eighth tier but they were made to wait against play-off chasing, Welwyn.
Welwyn are one of just two sides to beat Real in the league this season, scoring two late goals at the Ledger Stadium to win 2-1 back in August, but they were on the wrong end of a late show this time as Real Bedford picked up another three points.
Real were almost in front after just ninety seconds as a rasping Ben Stevens effort was expertly tipped over by Joe Welch in the Welwyn goal before Tyler McGregor was called into action at the other end, denying Nick Ralfe with the number nine through on goal.
The home side had the better of the first half as Layne Eadie hit straight at McGregor before Lewis Taaffe blazed narrowly over but it was Real Bedford who took the lead against the run of play.
Welwyn were the architects of their own downfall as a stray back pass only found the rapid Josh Setchell who made no mistake finding the bottom corner to give the league leaders a 1-0 half-time lead.
Former Bedford Town striker nearly upsets party
Taaffe had only joined Welwyn from Bedford Town a week ago, and his equaliser half way through the second half caused some flashbacks of August’s encounter where Bradley Wadkins restored parity.
This time it was Taaffe who gambled on Wadkins’ poke across goal to smash home a leveller with twenty minutes remaining and the former Eagle almost turned the game on its head moments later only to see his diving header kept out.
It rang alarm bells in the Real technical area as Sinclair threw on substitutes but it was a familiar man who would go on to score the winner.
Josh Setchell was once again paramount in the build up and his pass across the face of goal found in-form Joey Evans to tap home his seventh goal in six league games.
Tom Hitchcock, who had earlier come off the bench for Ben Stevens, put the game out of sight shortly after with a smart finish at the back post to seal the 3-1 win and secure Real Bedford’s sixth straight league victory.
It could have been even better for Real had Berkhamsted not scored a 98th minute equaliser at Leighton Town to steal a 2-2 draw, but while Rob Sinclair’s team keep winning, the title race remains in their own hands.
They don’t have long to wait until they’re back in action as they face another away trip to the division’s bottom club, North Leigh on Tuesday (28 January); a side they have already beaten 8-0 this season.
Real Bedford are then back at the Ledger Stadium as they host Flackwell Heath on Saturday 1 February.
