Ten-Man Pirates Refuse to Yield in Eight-Goal Thriller
Real Bedford draw 4-4 with fellow step 3 side St Albans City in a feisty and entertaining penultimate pre-season fixture at the Ledger Stadium.
The Pirates made three changes from the side that won the Bedfordshire County Cup against Bedford Town on Friday evening. Craig King replaced the Trialist goalkeeper in between the sticks, Jack Morrell came in for Sam Cartwright in defence and Elliot Simmons stepped in for Andi Thanoj in midfield.
The Saints started off the better team, and less than one minute in, a misplaced pass at the back gave the ball to St Albans skipper Alex Dyer, who slotted in Kieran Petrie for a great early chance but his effort was pushed away by King for a corner.
A couple minutes later Petrie called King into action once again. The oppositions left back launched a bomb of a throw down the line to Kai Brown and Petrie was fed another decent opportunity but the Real Bedford shot stopper denied him again.
Brown again was threatening on the left hand side and Petrie would have had a tap in but Morrell came sliding in to cut out Brown’s pass.
Against the run of play, Real Bedford took the lead in the 18th minute with their first attempt at goal. Collins made a brilliant driving run into St Albans’ half, laying it off to Stevens to work his magic. Our number 10 ran down to the byline and picked out Jordan Ponticelli, who then side footed a bouncing ball into the top corner to score for the third game in a row and make it 1-0 to the Pirates.
The visitors responded four minutes later, however, following a well worked free kick. A great ball in was found at the back post by the St Albans defender who headed it back across goal to Brown who had a tap in to level the scores at 1-1.
Brown somehow did not score a second only minutes later. The forward met an enticing low ball across the box but his first effort was stopped from close range and then his second attempt flied over as he fell off balance.
A feisty and aggressive game followed with as few strong challenges and nearly chances for both sides. The referee tried to get ahold of the game as a short melee broke out between the two teams, which resulted in Drew Richardson receiving a yellow card.
Then, on the stroke of half time, the Saints made it 2-1. Jack James had acres of space on the edge of the box, allowing the right back to unleash a rocket into the top right corner, as King watched it sail past.
A scrappy first half came to an end with plenty of fouls and stoppages. St Albans looked dangerous going forward and went in to the break with a deserved advantage.
Second half
The Hertfordshire based side continued their attacking presence after the interval and were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute. Substitute striker Inih Effiong’s deflected effort was going to fall into Brown’s path but the forward was brought down by Cartwright at the back post. Brown made no mistake from the spot and the Saints doubled their lead to 3-1.
The Pirates came close to responding two minutes later. Collins played a lovely through ball into Stevens who was in on goal and let fly a great strike but Sam Donkin made a magnificent stop to his right to deny him. CJ Kiala latched onto the loose ball but could not force home the rebound.
Real Bedford continued piling on the pressure and Ponticelli was close to grabbing his second. Morrell fired a ball across the box but Ponticelli was stretching and the striker couldn’t keep his attempt down as it went over the bar.
The Pirates’ pressure soon paid off only four minutes after Brown’s spot kick. Collins played a forward pass into Stevens who then laid it off to Josh Allen in the box and the striker rifled a shot into the top right corner with his left foot to half the deficit to 3-2.
Yet, The Pirates were reduced to 10 men as Richardson saw red. A challenge from the skipper on Effiong saw him receive a second yellow and Real Bedford had to play the last 25 minutes with a man down.
Playing with a man light didn’t stop the Pirates, with Allen making it 3-3 soon after with a brace. Kiala slipped in Allen through on goal and the forward finished impressively past Donkin while off balance and the scores were level with 12 to play.
With five minutes left, Real Bedford scored another to make it 4-3 and turn the game on its head. A trialist midfielder picked up the ball from a loose pass, taking it past one before rifling a low driven shot into the bottom left corner just inside the box to complete the spirited fight back by the 10 man Pirates.
Although, the Pirates’ joy was short-lived and St Albans equalised just two minutes later. Darion Furlong guided the ball into the net from a corner with a fine header and the game was now 4-4.
Both sides wanted to grab a winner and Kiala came closest but his shot on goal was saved down low by Donkin.
The referee brought an end to another entertaining pre season fixture for the Pirates. Rob Sinclair will be impressed with the determination his side showed to come from behind with a man down and satisfied with a draw against a decent St Albans outfit.
The next and final pre-season friendly for Real Bedford is on Saturday at 15:00 against Hertford Town at the Ledger Stadium. Get your tickets here.
Starting XI: King, Ward, Richardson, Morrell, Simmons, Collins, Kiala, Tee, Stevens, Allen, Ponticelli.
Subs: Trialist, Ahmed, Cartwright, Hitchcock, Trialist.
Real Bedford 4-4 St Albans City
Date: Tuesdat 28th July 2026
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: Ledger Stadium
