Pirates Hit Four in Berkhamsted Pre-Season Victory
Real Bedford continued their pre-season preparations with a 4-2 victory away at Berkhamsted, producing a devastating first-half attacking display before seeing out the contest after the break.
The Pirates started brightly and looked dangerous from the opening whistle, moving the ball with confidence and putting the hosts under early pressure. Josh Allen threatened inside the opening ten minutes, breaking clear before squaring for a trialist, but the pass was cut out before the chance could be converted.
The breakthrough arrived after 16 minutes following some excellent pressing deep inside the Berkhamsted half. Tee won possession before finding Ben Stevens, whose perfectly weighted through ball released Allen down the right. The forward kept his composure to square for Jordan Ponticelli, who calmly slotted home to score his first goal for the Pirates.
Real Bedford continued to dominate and almost doubled their advantage five minutes later when Allen was brought down on the edge of the penalty area. Stevens stepped up, but his free-kick drifted narrowly over the crossbar.
Berkhamsted created their first meaningful opportunity midway through the half, firing over from distance, but the Pirates quickly regained control.
The second goal arrived on the half-hour mark, after another slick attacking move. Tee released Sam Cartwright down the left-hand side, and the defender drove a dangerous low cross into the area where Ponticelli arrived to apply the finishing touch, doubling the lead and giving himself a brace.
The Pirates were irresistible going forward and struck twice in the space of a minute. Stevens was again the architect, threading a superb pass through for Allen, whose effort clipped the inside of the post before finding the net.
Moments later, Stevens turned provider once more. Ponticelli cleverly dummied the pass, allowing Allen to race through on goal and calmly finish for his second of the afternoon as Real Bedford stormed into a commanding 4-0 lead.
Berkhamsted pulled one back before the interval when a scrappy goal was bundled over the line following a goalmouth scramble.
The Pirates nearly restored their four-goal advantage before the break. Thanoj produced two excellent passes to split the defence, first finding Ponticelli whose cross narrowly evaded Tee, before picking out the striker again just before half-time, although he couldn’t quite bring the ball under control.
Real Bedford went into the interval with a deserved 4-1 advantage after an impressive first-half display full of attacking quality.
Second Half
The hosts made the better start to the second period, scoring within seconds of the restart as a high ball into the area was glanced into the net to reduce the deficit.
The home side enjoyed their strongest spell of the match, pinning the Pirates back for a period of sustained pressure.
Stevens tested the goalkeeper with a well-struck effort before Real Bedford were awarded the chance to restore their three-goal cushion. A lively run from a trialist ended with the forward being brought down inside the area, but Ponticelli was denied his hattrick from the penalty spot by an excellent save.
The Pirates continued to threaten, with the impressive trialist weaving past several defenders before seeing his effort blocked, while Ward’s dangerous cross just failed to find Ponticelli in the middle. Morrell also caused problems with an inviting delivery that almost resulted in a Berkhamsted own goal.
The trialist remained a constant threat throughout the second half, again dancing through the defence only to be denied by another smart save from the home goalkeeper.
With chances becoming fewer in the closing stages, Ponticelli had one final opportunity to add a fifth after breaking clear, but his square pass was intercepted before it could reach a teammate.
The final whistle confirmed a deserved 4-2 victory for Rob Sinclair’s side, whose clinical first-half performance proved enough to secure another positive pre-season result as preparations continue for the new campaign.
Starting XI: Trialist, Ward, Richardson, Cartwright, Simmons, Thanoj, Trialist, Tee, Stevens, Allen, Ponticelli.
Berkhamsted 2-4 Real Bedford
Date: Saturday 18th July 2026
Kick-off: 1pm
Venue: Glencar Stadium
