Ben Stevens and Sam Cartwright will be competing for goal of the month after their strikes – plus another for Josh Allen – helped Real Bedford to a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Banbury United in Southern League Premier Central on Tuesday night.
After a drab first half with no real goalmouth action to speak of, the game came alight in the second half as Real Bedford dominated to seal another three points to rise to third in the league table.
Real Bedford’s sixth win in seven league games have now helped them up to third in Southern League Premier Central, but they needed some moments of magic to do it in a tough battle against Banbury at the Ledger Stadium.
Banbury United also came into this encounter in fine form having won four of their last five league games, including impressive victories against Quorn, Bromsgrove and a 4-1 humbling of Bishop’s Stortford away from home.
Both sides are used to scoring goals, but after the first 45 minutes of their clash here, it seemed unlikely there’d be any.
One of just three shots on goal in the entire half came from Banbury’s Alex Worley, who curled an excellent effort from 25 yards that grazed the top of Craig King’s crossbar.
Real Bedford’s only shot on goal was an excellent chance; Ben Stevens slotted in Josh Allen on the penalty spot whose effort was smothered by Jack Harding, who was quick off his line to deny the Pirates attacker.
They were the only chances of note in a first period mainly played in attritional fashion in the middle third of the pitch, with both sides predictably heading into the changing rooms deadlocked.
Magic moments ignite drab game
Those in the crowd were hopeful, if not expectant, of goals in the second half and their wishes became reality just three minutes into the second period thanks to a moment of magic from Real’s talismanic number ten, Ben Stevens.
Receiving the ball on the left corner of the box, the playmaker proceeded to whip a shot over Harding, dipping it into the opposite bottom corner to give Real Bedford a lead they would never surrender.
Five minutes later, the lead was doubled in more simple fashion as a ball was floated out to Conor Tee on the right wing, who brought it down expertly before squaring for Allen who passed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
Sam Cartwright nearly got in on the act thanks to a header from a corner that was well kept out by Harding before Banbury struck from a long throw on the hour mark to get back into the game.
Connor Ferguson – on as a sub just moments earlier – propelled a long throw into the Real box, and it was flicked into the path of an unmarked Chris Weah who smashed it home to halve the deficit.
It wasn’t long before the two-goal cushion was restored thanks to a second magical goal from an unexpected source in centre back, Cartwright.
Stevens would turn provider from the corner, and his floated cross found Cartwright at the back post who met it first time on the volley, seeing it power in at the near post.
It was a goal worthy of sealing any game, and it took the last of the wind out of the Banbury sails, who rarely threatened again in the closing stages as Real Bedford saw out a 3-1 victory.
Their next challenge is usurping Spalding United and Harborough Town, both of whom won again on Tuesday night, with the latter still unbeaten in the league this season. Real are six points off Spalding in second.
Rob Sinclair’s side go on the road for their next two fixtures, travelling east to Leiston on Saturday (29 December) before heading in the opposite direction to once again face Alvechurch, who knocked the Pirates out of the FA Trophy on penalties ten days ago.
