Real Bedford leapfrogged ten-man Berkhamsted in the race for the Southern League Central Division One title after completing a 5-1 win over their league rivals at the Ledger Stadium on Tuesday evening (14 January).
Rob Sinclair’s side scored three goals in second half stoppage time to seal a tie that had ebbed and flowed through ninety minutes of flashpoints and incidents in a Southern League game that had almost everything.
The two sides came into this encounter with just a single point separating them – and at least six points clear of the chasing pack – making this a league title six-pointer at the top of Southern League Central Division One.
There is still a long way to go in this league season, but Real Bedford have gained a psychological edge in winning a game that, despite a relatively serene first half an hour, sparked into life at the end of the first period.
The first half was more notable for its hefty challenges than its goalmouth action and despite a first twenty minutes that only included a half chance for both sides, the game kicked into life towards the end.
Matt Bateman’s second-minute effort was easily kept out by Tyler McGregor in the Real goal before Josh Bowler responded with a save of his own from a lively Josh Setchell at the other end in the opening throws.
The game kicked into life with ten minutes left on the first half clock however as the tackles started flying in.
First it was Berkhamsted’s Charlie Johnson whose strong tackle got the ball, but the follow through provoked a Real Bedford backlash involving Shaheim Ward and a number of away players as the game’s first confrontation ensued.
Johnson, perhaps rightly, escaped with a yellow card but it had lit the blue touch paper on a game that would then grow into a 1980’s-style physical affair with tackles flying in.
Drew Richardson’s lunge on the stroke of half-time sparked another set of handbags, with Brett Longden and Luke Andrews heavily involved this time, as both sides went into the interval fired up, but still goalless.
Second half drama begins with red
However, if the final ten minutes of the first half were fiery, it had nothing on a second half that will go down as a classic forty five minutes, especially for Real Bedford.
It began in dramatic fashion as Josh Setchell beat the offside trap only to be met by an onrushing Bowler in the Berkhamsted goal.
The away shot stopper could not get there first, and as Setchell tapped the ball past him, Bowler was left to foul Setchell outside the area with the referee showing him a straight red card.
The dismissal of the Berkhamsted goalkeeper changed the complexion of the game, and after a lengthy stoppage to allow replacement keeper Matthew Burch to come on, Real wasted no time in taking control.
It was Setchell who would break the deadlock; latching on to Shaheim Ward’s through ball to place home into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 as Dan Newton conceded an unnecessary penalty in pulling over Isaac Galliford with the ball well clear of the winger, leaving Joey Evans to step up and smash home the spot kick.
With visiting manager, Chris Devane and one of his substitutes booked for their remonstrations on the touchline, it looked like the wheels were falling off for Berkhamsted.
Big chances to seal the game came and went as Setchell was once again sent clear only to place his shot wide, before Joey Evans hit the post moments later.
Berkhamsted nearly made them pay for their carelessness.
With a little over five minutes remaining, the Comrades were given a lifeline as the referee pointed to the spot after former Bedford Town striker, Connor Tomlinson was pulled to the ground by Ward, with Tom Newman confidently scoring the resulting penalty.
Injury time flurry puts icing on the cake
It left a potentially nervous finale for Real Bedford, but they went on to score three more goals in stoppage time to give the scoreline a flattering look come the final whistle.
Ben Stevens’ excellent near post finish put the game to bed in the 92nd minute before Eniola Agemoh-Davies and Callum Nicolson scored in the 96th and 98th minutes to give Real Bedford a 5-1 win that not only gives them three points, but adds to an impressive goal difference.
The final scoreline was harsh on a Berkhamsted side who, despite a ten-minute spell where they seriously wobbled in the second half, continued to battle on and could have scored an equaliser that would have spelt disaster for Bedford.
However, it’s Rob Sinclair’s Real who open up a two-point gap at the top of the division on another action-packed night at the Ledger Stadium.
Real Bedford are back there next as they host second bottom side, Leverstock Green on Saturday (18 January) while Berkhamsted travel to another lowly side in Northwood.
Elsewhere in the division, Barton Rovers showed they were not missing their star striker John Shamalo in scoring four at AFC Dunstable to rise to third and keep pace with the top two, although they are six points off Real Bedford having played a game more.
Flackwell Heath are fourth after only managing a 1-1 draw at home to Northwood while Real’s next opponents, Leverstock Green drew 0-0 against Hertford.
