Ponticelli rescues a point as Pirates share four-goal thriller with Bury
Real Bedford fought back to earn a 2-2 draw with Bury Town at the Ledger Stadium on Tuesday evening, with Jordan Ponticelli’s second-half header ensuring the Pirates took at least a point from an eventful encounter.
Real Bedford 2-2 Bury Town
Southern League Premier Central
Attendance: 533
The Pirates had an early chance to take control when awarded a penalty inside the opening five minutes. Josh Allen stepped up, but Charlie Beckwith saved his spot-kick to keep the scores level. It proved the first of several important interventions from the visiting goalkeeper.
Real Bedford continued to threaten. Allen broke clear again, only for recovering defender Carroll to take the sting out of his effort, before Richardson tested Beckwith from distance. Conor Tee then cut inside and sent a shot narrowly wide as the Pirates searched for a breakthrough.
That pressure brought its reward after 17 minutes. Tee delivered a dangerous ball through a crowded penalty area, and Setchell was on hand to finish and give Real Bedford the lead. It was a fitting moment for the returning winger, who would go on to collect the club’s man-of-the-match award.
The advantage was short-lived. A Conway free-kick caused problems inside the Real Bedford box and, although Craig King made an initial save, Smith bundled the ball home with his knee to bring Bury level almost immediately.
The Pirates responded by creating further openings. Ben Stevens beat two players before seeing his shot caught, and both Stevens and Ponticelli were denied from close range in the 35th minute. Tee’s delivery then forced another impressive save from Beckwith as Real Bedford pushed to regain the lead.
Tee had the ball in the net four minutes before the interval, but an interesting offside call from the linesman cut short the celebrations. The teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Second half
Real Bedford began the second half with another opportunity, Beckwith parrying Allen’s curling effort shortly after the restart. Stevens later fired high and wide, but the Pirates fell behind just before the hour. Richardson attempted to deal with a ball into the box from Quantrell, only for his clearance to loop over King and into his own net.
The Pirates continued to pursue an equaliser. Tee came close with a free-kick, drawing a sharp reflex save from Beckwith, before Rob Sinclair introduced Archie Jones and CJ Kiala for Davies and Setchell.
The breakthrough arrived with around a quarter of an hour remaining. Stevens’ cross took a deflection, and Ponticelli reacted to meet it with a looping header and bring Real Bedford level.
Jack Morrell and Tom Hitchcock replaced Sam Cartwright and Allen as Real Bedford sought a winner. The closing stages then took another turn when Jolland received a straight red card for a horrendous off-the-ball challenge on Mensah. Bury were left to defend the final minutes with ten men.
The Pirates almost made the extra player count in the 88th minute. Kiala drove a cross into the area and Hitchcock met it at close range, only for Beckwith to produce another outstanding reflex save.
Three minutes of added time brought no decisive goal. Real Bedford were left to reflect on a night of missed opportunities and excellent opposition goalkeeping, but Ponticelli’s equaliser ensured the Pirates emerged with a hard-earned point.
Next up for The Pirates is a trip to Bishop's Stortford on Saturday 24th October.
Lineup: King, Cartwright, Richardson (C), Mensah, Collins, Davies, Setchell, Tee, Stevens, Allen, Ponticelli.
Subs: Kane, Morrell, Jones, Kiala, Hitchcock.