Real Bedford 4-0 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report

Real Bedford 4-0 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 6/4/26

Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division

Hamish Arnold

Having confirmed Non League Step Three survival on Good Friday, Bishop’s Stortford suffered a 4-0 defeat on Easter Monday away at Real Bedford. The Blues, on a run of one win in nine matches, can still finish the season with a club record points total for a Southern League season, but would require six points from the final three matches in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division campaign – all of which are away from home.

After a low key start to the match, Josh Allen opened the scoring with a composed finish across goal into the bottom right corner from a low left wing cross. Joshua Setchell forced Adam Hayton into a diving save away to his left from a tight angle, and the resulting corner was cleared by captain Jake Thompson. Aaron Greene dribbled into the box from the right wing, and his lay-off was hit first time by Jack Smith, his effort was curling off target but Pirates skipper Drew Richardson headed the ball clear. Jack Davies saw some space and took aim from long range but fired over the crossbar. Charlie Castle found himself in a shooting position as he received a lofted pass, but the offside flag was raised as Craig King saved the shot with his right boot. Former Blues midfielder Archie Jones saw his 25 yard effort saved by Hayton, who took the ball in his arms.

HT 1-0

Substitute Obi Onyeagwara made a driving run into the box but his low cross from the right was blocked before Castle could receive the ball for a tap-in. After a bright start to the second half, the Blues found themselves further behind when Conor Tee’s sliding finish found the back of the net from a right wing cross. Cole Dasilva’s left wing cross found Castle in the middle but he missed the target with a first time volley, before Jones’ low shot had Hayton diving low to his right to keep the shot out, Mark Haines cleared to the edge of the box where Ben Stevens shot over. Dasilva curled a right footed free kick low towards the bottom right corner, but it took a deflection off the wall for a corner kick on the right. Thompson won the header but his effort glanced off a Real Bedford player for another corner. Stortford failed to apply continued pressure though as the second corner was cleared. Deivi Kreka had a free header from a corner on the right in the last 10 minutes but missed the target. Harry Gray converted from close range from a pinpoint cross from the left having come off the bench late on, and Allen doubled his tally for the match, pouncing on a mix-up in the Blues midfield to dribble through the defence and round Hayton before finishing from a tight angle.

FT 4-0

TEAMS

Real Bedford XI

1 Craig King

2 Drew Richardson (c)

4 Jack Davies (Yellow card 66’)

5 Samuel Cartwright

7 Joshua Setchell (Gray 78’)

8 Archie Jones (Weyman 70’)

10 Ben Stevens

11 Conor Tee (Goal 51’) (Morrell 86’)

17 Shaheim Ward

19 Josh Allen (Goal 20’ 88’)

23 Lewis Hilliard (Collins 74’)

Subs

3 Jack Morrell

6 Lee Watkins

14 Ben Weyman

18 Sam Collins

21 Harry Gray (Goal 85’)

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Adam Hayton

2 Harry Forde (Kreka 60’)

3 Leon Davies

4 Cole Dasilva

5 Jake Thompson (c)

6 Mark Haines

7 Charlie Castle (Norris 60’)

10 Bradley Russell

12 Fabio Virciglio (Onyeagwara 46’)

14 Jack Smith (Amu 60’)

19 Aaron Greene (Jessey 63’)

Subs

9 Frank Norris

11 Obi Onyeagwara

15 Deivi Kreka

17 George Jessey

18 Erin Amu

Attendance 526