Real Bedford conceded an 83rd minute winner as they fell 3-2 at last season’s Southern League Premier Central’s losing play-off semi-finalists, Halesowen Town on Saturday (16 August).
The Pirates led twice thanks to strikes from Ben Stevens and Joey Evans, but a late winner from Halesowen’s, Milan Butterfield meant Rob Sinclair’s side left The Grove in the West Midlands with nothing.
Real’s first block of five fixtures look difficult on paper, but they had navigated the start of the season well with victory over Spalding and a draw at Needham Market.
Halesowen also had one win and one draw before Saturday’s encounter, but their late win takes them to seven points from nine as they will surely once again be in the higher echelons of the division come April.
Real lead at half time
They started this game well; early opportunities fell to Josh Setchell and Archie Jones before Halesowen were denied by Tyler McGregor who denied Charlie Wragg when through on goal.
With just thirteen minutes on the clock, and with both sides already creating chances, Real Bedford took the lead thanks to a wonderful finish from playmaker, Ben Stevens who floated a finish into the far corner past the reaches of Dan Platt in the home goal.
Jak Hickman equalised for the hosts before the half hour mark from a corner, before eventual match winner Butterfield spurned a couple of chances, but Real Bedford would go into the break thanks to another injury time goal from Joey Evans.
Evans had previously scored in the fifth minute of first half injury time en route to a pair of goals against Spalding on the opening day, and he struck again with the clock in the red to put his side in the ascendency.
Halesowen were unable to clear positively from a corner, and with the ball pinging around the area, it eventually fell to the feet of Evans to slam home.
Halesowen came out of the traps fast in the second half; further chances for Wragg and McKauley Manning went begging before Jamie Willetts sent a free header over McGregor’s crossbar.
It felt like a matter of time before Halesowen would equalise, and sure enough the goal came on the hour mark after another scramble in the box, but this time it was Real’s turn to fail to clear as Jason Cowley tapped home.
Both sides made late changes for fresh legs, but it was the home side who pressed for a late winner which came courtesy of Butterfield as Kyle Finn’s corner was bundled home at the back post to give Halesowen a 3-2 victory.
Real Bedford are back in action at the Ledger Stadium with another tough task against the division’s losing play-off finalists, Kettering Town next Saturday (23 August).
They will also learn of their first FA Cup opponents as the draw for the first qualifying round takes place on Monday lunchtime (18 August).
