Neighbours, Bedford Town and Real Bedford are in line to face each other in the semi-final of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup after winning their respective quarter-final ties against Biggleswade opposition on Tuesday night (9 December).
Bedford Town came back from a goal down to beat their tenants at The Eyrie, step four side Biggleswade FC 2-1, while Real also went behind before battling back to a 3-1 victory at Biggleswade United.
In the other quarter-final ties, Biggleswade Town thrashed Kempston Rovers 8-1, while the last of the four semi-finalists are yet to be decided as Luton Town’s tie at Leighton Town was postponed.
As a result, there is currently no indication of when the semi-final draw will take place.
Good’un Godden strikes again
Jago Godden was back in the goals, alongside the returning Carl Mensah, as Bedford Town battled back from a goal down at half-time to beat Biggleswade FC at The Eyrie, despite naming a strong side for the quarter-final clash.
Both sides play their home games at the ground, but it was the tenants who began the better and had by far the best of the first half action, as they deservedly led 1-0 at the break.
Biggleswade hit the post through Adam Hunt after just ten minutes, but in the 13th, they were in front as Bradley Bell opened the scoring after a forward-thinking Hunt saw his effort saved by Ashmore.
Temi Akinbusoye’s effort was easily saved by Ashmore shortly after, before he was denied again thanks to excellent defending from Cole Kpekawa, as the pair battled intensely in a first half that could have seen the Eagles centre back sent off, only to be spared a second yellow by the referee.
Ashmore was on hand to deny Akinbusoye late in the first period with the Biggleswade striker through on goal as the Eagles re-grouped – perhaps fortunately – at just a goal down.
Bedford Town came back out for the second half with renewed application; Callum Ebanks headed a Sandiford cross wide, before Ibrahim Rashid tipped over an effort from Gyamfi, after a scuffed shot from Mensah found the Eagles captain.
With pressure beginning to tell, two Bedford goals in three minutes turned the game on its head.
Carl Mensah, who has spent a lot of this season out injured, stooped to head a corner past Ibrahim, before Jago Godden scored his third goal in as many games gave Bedford a lead they would never surrender.
An excellent double save from Rashid denied Gyamfi twice to keep Biggleswade FC in the tie late on, while a frustrating night for Akinbusoye was capped by a 93rd-minute equaliser that was chalked off thanks to an offside flag.
The Eagles progress to the semi-finals, taking one step further towards a cup they have not won since the 2004-05 season.
Hitchcock double sees Real through
Further east, Rob Sinclair’s Real Bedford also faced Biggleswade opposition in the form of Spartans South Midlands Premier Division side, Biggleswade United.
They too went a goal down thanks to Sam Ezenwaka’s 14th-minute effort, but three goals shared between Real Bedford’s stalwarts in Joey Evans and Tom Hitchcock saved their blushes.
Ezenwaka’s goal saw Biggleswade United in front for 20 minutes, and Craig King had to be on his toes to deny the hosts a second as he pulled off a key save from Ryan Lewis towards the end of the first half.
Real thought they should have been awarded at least one penalty, but come the final whistle, it wasn’t to matter as the old guard came to the fore to score three unanswered strikes.
Joey Evans was the man to grab the equaliser; praying on a poor piece of goalkeeping to complete a simple finish, with both sides heading in at half-time level at one apiece.
Kingsley Joy-Bates and Ezenwaka were both again denied by King in the early throws of the second half, but a brace from Hitchcock sealed the Pirates’ progression.
Real hit Biggleswade on the counter shortly after the hour mark, allowing Josh Setchell to square to Tom Hitchcock who was on hand to tap home a simple goal to give the visitors the lead for the first time.
Biggleswade keeper, Alex Desmond expertly kept out Ben Stevens and Setchell, but he could do nothing about the clincher that came five minutes into added time, with Hitchcock sliding in his second after a square ball from Evans.
Rob Sinclair’s side will hope to go at least one step further than their semi-final effort last season, in which they fell to eventual winners, AFC Dunstable.
Real Bedford are back in league action this Saturday (13 December) as they host Bromsgrove Sporting in Southern League Premier Central at the Ledger Stadium, while Bedford Town have a rare Saturday off as the majority of step two sides resume FA Trophy action.
