Real Bedford missed a glorious opportunity to go six points clear at the top of Southern League Central Division One as they missed a 93rd minute penalty against Leighton Town in a 0-0 stalemate at the Ledger Stadium.
Leighton Town had defended magnificently for ninety minutes before the referee pointed to the penalty spot, but Connor Hunt proved to be the hero in keeping out Tom Hitchcock’s spot kick to preserve a point for the visitors.
Late penalty aside, Leighton Town were full value for their point and frustrated the home side for large periods of the game in a superb defensive effort.
In doing so, they became the first side in the division to keep out a free-scoring Real Bedford this season and were a far more organised outfit than the Town side who were insipidly beaten 4-0 here in the FA Trophy in September.
Real were well ahead in the possession stats all game, but failed to break down Leighton in a first half of few chances.
Snap shots from the effervescent Ben Stevens and Isaac Galliford were blocked in the early stages before Jack Morrell had Real’s best chance of the first half but blazed over from inside the area.
Leighton Town had come to play on the counter attack and most of their forward forays were spearheaded by their captain, Lynton Goss but he couldn’t trouble McGregor in the Real goal, who didn’t have a save to make throughout the encounter.
Late lifeline kept out
That pattern resumed into the second half, and Real couldn’t muster any clear cut chances as Leighton stood firm.
Indeed, the best chance of the half fell to Goss after he dispossessed Brett Longden in the opening moments of the second period but he struck over in what would have been a shock lead.
As the half wore on, Leighton dropped deeper but still Real were kept out; Morrell grazed the post with a header late on before Rob Sinclair’s side were given a golden lifeline deep into stoppage time.
Archie Jones had careered into the area and was clattered off the ball by a purple shirt, and Tom Hitchcock – who scored from the spot in Saturday’s 6-2 victory over Biggleswade FC – stepped up.
However, Hunt guessed correctly and the ball came at a comfortable height for the Leighton shot stopper who parried it round the post much to the delight of his teammates.
Jones had one last chance to steal all three points as the clock ticked down, but his effort was straight at Hunt as he became the first man to keep a clean sheet in an opposition goal at the Ledger Stadium this campaign.
Silver linings
It will be seen as two dropped points in the eyes of manager, Rob Sinclair but his men can take solace in the fact that other teams in and around the title hunt dropped points tonight too.
Hadley, Real Bedford’s next opponents on 23 November, could only draw 1-1 at Stotfold while Welwyn Garden City, the only side to beat Real in the league this season, lost 2-0 at home to Flackwell Heath.
At the end of the night, Real Bedford are four points clear at the top of Southern League Central Division One but they would have wanted to be six.
There’s a rare Saturday off now, as their scheduled opponents are in FA Trophy action, with the Pirates returning to the Ledger Stadium on 23 November to host fellow high-flyers, Hadley.
