The Pirates Put Four past Shefford at Mcmullen Park
A brace on either side of half-time from Joey Evans and Josh Setchell was enough to put the Lambs to the slaughter, maintaining Bedford’s lead at the top of the table.
Bedford were in an attacking mood from the first whistle, with shots raining down on Josh Mollison early on in the game. Two efforts from Ben Stevens and Archie Jones were blocked in quick succession by the Shefford defence five minutes into the match.
Jones and Stevens worked well together all game, and Jones soon broke free again in the area but was brought down by Charlie Milton, giving the referee little choice but to point to the spot. Joey Evans confidently put away his third penalty of this league campaign, getting The Pirates off the mark.
Minutes later, Evans scored again, this time with a more opportunistic effort. Ben Stevens struck the ball well from range, forcing a parried save from Josh Mollison but only as far as the Bedford striker, who tapped it home for his second in as many minutes.
Approaching the half-hour mark, Drew Richardson sprung into action from centre-back, driving through midfield and playing a through ball to Archie Jones. However, Mollison was on hand to block Jones’ attempted effort from inside Shefford’s box.
Shefford then forced two impeccable saves out of Tyler McGregor in quick fashion, one from an effort at the near post by Scott Metcalfe and the other an acrobatic tip over the bar, denying Curt Ellaine a goal to half the deficit just before the break.
Second Half
In a similar fashion to the first half, Bedford stamped their authority on the match with an early goal in the second half. Josh Setchell evaded the defence with an audacious dribble from inside his own half before smashing the ball past Mollison.
Twenty minutes later, Setchell bagged his brace from a similar shooting position. Receiving the ball just inside the box on the right flank, he struck the ball across his body and into an identical place as his previous goal, his fifth goal against Shefford this season.
The Pirates rode the game out, keeping them in the hunt for the League title heading into the final few games of the season.
RBFC: McGregor, Corbit, Longden (Agemoh-Davies 73’), Wood ©, Richardson, Smith (Knight 81’), Setchell, Watkins (Hitchcock 78’), Evans, Stevens (Gordon 86’), Jones
Unused Subs: Ducket
Real Bedford 4 - 0 Shefford Town & Campton
30th March, 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Location: McMullen Park
