Ten man Bury Town hold unbeaten Real Bedford in top of the table clash
As expected, Bury were on defensive duties for most of the game and that started early on when on 5 minutes Bury gave away a penalty. Josh Allen stepped up to take the spot kick, and Charlie Beckwith made his first of many saves. On 11 minutes Josh Allen hit a pacey shot from distance and Charlie Beckwith made another good save. Two minutes later Conor Tee tried his luck from a tight angle and hit the side netting. Real Bedford were relentless on the attack, shooting at every opportunity and on 17 minutes Conor Tee sent a ball into the box and Joshua Setchell was in the right place to fire the Hosts in front. Bury then equalised a minute later when a free kick played into the box by Ally Conway was initially saved by Craig King and Tommy Smith scored with a tap in from close range. On 29 minutes another attack from Real Bedford saw Ben Stevens rifle a shot towards goal which went just wide of the far post. Bury went on the attack on 31 minutes with Ryan Jolland crossing the ball into the box and the Host keeper jumped high to claim the ball off the head of Ollie Canfer. Real Bedford went straight back on the attack and Ben Stevens sent a long ball into the box which had Joe Carroll heading clear close to goal. On 36 minutes Charlie Beckwith was needed again for Bury when he made another good save this time from a shot from a tight angle by Conor Tee. The Hosts had a great opportunity to get themselves in front on 28 minutes when a ball into the box was headed over the bar by Josh Allen. Real Bedford thought they had taken the lead on 42 minutes when Connor Tee found the back of the net from close range only to see his goal ruled out for offside.
Half Time: Real Bedford 0 Bury Town 0
Second Half Bury contained to soak up the pressure well and defend in numbers. On 47 minutes Ben Stevens let fly from outside the box and Charlie Beckwith made yet another good save. Bury had a good chance on 51 minutes when a ball into the box was half cleared out to Ryan Jolland who shot just wide of the far post. Bury then took the lead when on 58 minutes. George Quantrell sent the ball into the box and Drew Richardson tried to clear the ball from danger but put the ball past King and into his own net. On 61 minutes Ben Stevens broke into the Bury box, but his soft effort was easy for the Bury keeper to collect. Real Bedford won a free kick just outside the box on 68 minutes and Ben Stevens put his effort on goal around the wall and heading into the bottom corner but for an excellent save by Charlie Beckwith. The Hosts kept the pressure on. Benji Mensah launched a long ball from the wing into the box which dropped dangerously close to the far post but went out of play. On 71 minutes Conor Tee put a cross in close to goal and Tommy Smith headed clear. Then the hosts pulled level on 72 minutes when a deflected cross to the far post was headed back across the keeper and home by Jordan Ponticelli. Bury were reduced to ten men on 82 minutes when Ryan Jolland was sent off with a straight red card for violent conduct against Benji Mensah. It was backs to the wall for the remainder of the game for Bury. On 88 minutes Claudio Kiala whipped a dangerous ball into the box and found Tom Hitchcock close to goal and his first time hit saw Charlie Beckwith make the save of the game to keep Bury level. A pulsating game which had everything came to an end and ten man Bury had held out to take a well-deserved and hard fought after point against unbeaten Real Bedford.
Full Time: Real Bedford 2 Bury Town 2
The David Longman Man of the Match: Charlie Beckwith
Match Rating: 5/5
Attendance: 533