Conor Tee scored a hat-trick as Real Bedford’s perfect Southern League Premier Central start continued in style as they beat a soporific Stratford Town 6-1 at the Ledger Stadium on Saturday (22 August).
Sam Cartwright, Josh Allen and substitute, Tom Hitchcock were also on the scoresheet as the division’s favourites made it four wins from four on a comfortable afternoon for Rob Sinclair’s men.
Early season victories against Leamington, Peterborough Sports and Banbury United had left Real top of the tree after three games of the new season, and many expect them to remain there as heavy step three favourites.
Read: Real Bedford maintain perfect start with win at Banbury
On Saturday, they came up against Stratford Town, managed by Paul Davis, perhaps remembered around these parts for his ill-fated 15-day tenure in charge of next door neighbours, Bedford Town at the turn of the year in 2023.
His memories of the town won’t be any better after his side were humbled by a rampant Real who have now scored 15 goals in their opening four league games.
Irate Pirates battle back from sloppy start
Despite the final scoreline, Stratford had by far the best of the opening ten minutes, in which they should have taken the lead.
Their chances throughout the game fell almost exclusively to Jack Storer, who forced Craig King into an acrobatic save just three minutes in with a curling effort destined for the top corner, before squandering an even better chance shortly after.
The Real defence were decidedly static as Storer collected a loose ball before directing his effort narrowly wide of King’s far post.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, as Real settled into the game and took the lead after 11 minutes.
Conor Tee was bundled over 25 yards from goal, but picked himself up to whip the resulting free kick into the bottom corner to give Rob Sinclair’s side an early lead their defensive sloppiness perhaps didn’t deserve.
For the remaining 80 minutes however, Real’s slick attacking play was too much for a Stratford defence largely all at sea, although they weren’t helped by what they thought was a distinct lack of decisions from the officials.
Sinclair was unusually irate on the touchline, as Allen had a big penalty appeal waved away before the referee inexplicably brought play back for a free kick to Real despite Ponticelli being on the verge of tapping home a second.
All of which sent the Real bench berserk, but despite that, their players continued to pile forward with the verve that has become their style in recent years, with Tee crashing a second free kick off the crossbar.
Ben Stevens also hit the woodwork, before the home side got their second goal from a corner, with Sam Cartwright gifted the freedom of Bedford to nod home unmarked.
Real should have made it three before the break, as Josh Allen’s air shot eventually fell to CJ Kiala, whose shot was cleared off the line before Stratford goalkeeper, Jacob Weaver did well to keep out Sam Collins’ follow up.
Four more goals in the second half
The second half was a far more comfortable affair for Bedford, who were gifted their third just two minutes after the restart.
Finlay Brennan pulled back Kiala, leaving the referee to point to the spot, much to the relief of the Pirates’ bench, with Josh Allen sending Weaver the wrong way from 12 yards.
Joss Labadie whipped a Stratford free kick well over shortly after, but they did get a goal back as they hit Bedford on the break, allowing Storer to lift a neat effort over King to bring the scoreline back to 3-1.
Within 90 seconds though, the three-goal buffer had returned.
Kiala played Allen through the centre, and the striker laid it on a plate for Tee to curl in a beautiful second of the afternoon.
By the hour mark, it was five as a carbon copy of the previous goal gave Tee his hat-trick, with the final third of the game becoming a procession as Stratford’s resolve was beaten.
Chances fell for numerous Real Bedford players to make it six as the second half wore on, but the final goal was left to substitute, Tom Hitchcock who scored with his first touch, latching on to a cross that found its way to the back post.
His diving header was the icing on the cake, but while Real’s obvious goalscoring threat is a pungent one, there may be a couple of question marks over slightly slow starts that could come back to bite them as the season progresses.
Real are back in action next Saturday (29 August) as they travel to play-off semi-finalists, Halesowen Town, before hosting promoted, Leighton Town at the Ledger Stadium on bank holiday Monday two days later.
