Real Bedford 3 - 0 Tring Athletic

TOUGH GIG AT BEDFORD

Two seasons ago we lifted the South Midlands League’s Premier Division Cup after convincingly beating Flackwell Heath 3-0 at Pancake Lane, home of Leverstock Green. Unfortunately we will not be emulating that feat after losing to high flying Real Bedford in this semi-final game. Bedford will now take their place in the final where they will play Cockfosters or Aylesbury Vale Dynamos and we wish them all the best.

It is some years since we last visited McMullen Park and there has been a big transformation after significant investment to both the facilities and playing side from their bitcoin millionaire owner.

We were missing about half dozen players for this semi-final but that should not detract from the performance of our hosts as they are a formidable outfit. After winning the Division 1 title last season with 99 points they sit atop of the Premier Division and are on track to win promotion for the second season running. However, they are being pushed all the way by MK Irish, another club reputedly splashing the cash, who are just 6 points behind with a game in hand so its all set up for an exciting finish.

Despite the wet weather we have endured this year the playing surface was in great condition and with the sun shining it was all set up for a good game of football. Unfortunately we didn’t get off to the best of starts, conceding a goal after only 6 minutes when Tom Hitchcock converted a cross into the box. Score 1-0.

Five minutes later Max Hercules was taken out right on the edge of the Bedford penalty area. Brother Frankie superbly struck the resulting free kick which looked destined for the far corner, with the keeper well beaten, but a defender did supremely well to get back and clear the ball off the line.

Our hosts were dominating possession and we had a lucky escape in the 19th minute when Ben Stevens terrific free kick forced an equally brilliant save from Dan Gould who tipped the ball against the post and away to safety. Our opponents created some other possible chances but we defended well and managed to restrict the damage to a goal and keep ourselves still in the game up to the break. HT Score 1-0.

We started the second half positively and posed some problems for the home defence but we failed to test the Bedford keeper and paid the price in the 64th minute when the impressive Ben Stevens scored his 37th goal of the season to put his side into a strong position. Score 2-0.

Home skipper Luke Knight added a 3rd goal in the 78th minute to make absolutely sure of their place in the final. FT Score 3-0.

This was a tough game for the lads against a very good team but they worked hard and kept us in the game until the last quarter when Bedford’s quality finally shone through. FT Score 3-0.

We came into the game on a terrific run of form with just 2 defeats from our previous 11 games (and one of those defeats was from a penalty shoot-out) and its sods law that our next league game sees us back at McMullen Park on Saturday. However, we know what to expect and hopefully we will have some players back so let’s hope we can pick up a point or three.

But before then we have an important game coming up on Wednesday when we play old foes Oxhey Jets in the final of the Herts Charity Shield, so lets hope we get plenty of support at the game.

Team:

TA: Dan Gould, Harry Jones, James Sales, G Carbery (Capt), Dave O’Connor, Jack Harvey (Harry Shepherd 65), Greg Deer, Noah Butler (Harrison Mead 65), Frankie Hercules (Charlie Bradshaw 83), Max Hercules, Ben Kakembo. Sub not used: Luke Peerless.

Scorers:

RB: Tom Hitchcock (6), Ben Stevens (64), Luke Knight (78)

Crowd: ?