Real Bedford survived a valiant Stratford Town comeback to win 3-2 at the Arden Garages Stadium on Saturday – their ninth win in ten games in all competitions – as Rob Sinclair’s side remain fifth in Southern League Premier Central.
Elliot Simmons first goal in Real colours set the Pirates on their way, before Conor Tee’s third in two games and Josh Allen’s late winner confirmed three points in Stratford-upon-Avon.
It could have been a far more comfortable afternoon for Real Bedford, who went 2-0 up and had a third ruled out for offside in the latter stages of the first half, before Stratford fought back admirably in the second.
There have been more incomings at the Ledger Stadium this week, with Rio Deall joining from Hemel Hempstead Town in the week, but it was another of the season’s new faces who kicked things off with a marvellous finish on Saturday afternoon.
Former Bedford Town man Simmons, whose starting opportunities have been few and far between since crossing the fence at Meadow Lane, was the beneficiary of an inch-perfect ball from the returning Mo Ahmed and proceeded to curl an effort into the top right hand corner for the opener.
Chances for the home side were rare, as Real Bedford turned the screw by doubling their lead eight minutes before half time.
A wonderful through ball from Drew Richardson found Conor Tee, who – after opening his Real account with a brace in the FA Trophy against Ashford United last weekend – scored his third in two games with another clinical finish.
Read: First half blitz helps Real Bedford into next round of the FA Trophy
The game could have been out of sight before the half-time whistle, only for Josh Allen’s third to be disallowed for offside, and it allowed the home side to regroup and come out fighting in the second period.
Stratford comeback drowned out by Allen
It took just five minutes of the second half for Stratford to halve the deficit thanks to an excellent finish from Dan Lafferty, and new Real keeper, Craig King had to be alert to keep out two back-to-back chances minutes later as Stratford came out fighting.
Drew Richardson nodded a header over for Real, but again King was needed to keep out an increasingly gung-ho Stratford, while Tee and Allen both spurned chances to put the game to bed for the visitors.
Allen was on the verge of being withdrawn for his strike partner, Joey Evans late on when he scored Real’s third with a typically calm finish into the bottom corner in the 85th minute.
It seemingly confirmed another three points for the Pirates, but Stratford made it a nervy closing as debutant Max Lott scored in the fourth of seven minutes added time, although they had no time to fashion any chances for a dramatic late equaliser.
The victory allows Real to keep up the pace in the play-off spots, with all of the division’s top six winning on Saturday, and led the way by Spalding United – a team Real Bedford beat on the opening day of the season.
They also face three more away fixtures in a row to come, with a visit to relegation-threatened, Stamford up next before trips to Alvechurch in the FA Trophy and a league tie against Bury Town.
Last year’s Northern Division One Midlands champions, and fellow high-flyers, Quorn FC are the next visitors to the Ledger Stadium on Saturday 22 November.
