Bedford FC

[RallyInRaleigh]

Nice of MK Irish to drop a couple of points at the death last weekend. Gotta keep piling up the 3 pointers. Happy to see no midweek game on the fixtures list this week as they could probably use a bit of a break after all of these cup games. 

[Rhodes]

RallyInRaleigh - Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise to exit the FA Vase to Biggleswade United (see highlights below and a link to the match programme), it was of course disappointing at the time, especially in the circumstances of that nail biting penalty shoot out, however had Rob Sinclair's men got all the way to Wembley in May it would have obviously distracted from the League and played right into Milton Keynes Irish's hands. As it is there is still the SSML Challenge Trophy and Premier Division Cup to play for and it could be nice to win one of those, if not both, very few SSML Club's have completed a domestic treble:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/655b8a81c0e3a045342a3977/1700498095391/%2331+RBFC+v+BUFC+-+FAV+11.11.23

Edited November 22, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 20/11/2023 at 15:28, RallyInRaleigh said:

Nice of MK Irish to drop a couple of points at the death last weekend. Gotta keep piling up the 3 pointers. Happy to see no midweek game on the fixtures list this week as they could probably use a bit of a break after all of these cup games. 

RallyInRaleigh - Yes, that's right, see the match report, match programme and highlights of the livestream from the 5-2 victory over Aylesbury Vale Dynamos last Saturday:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/real-bedford-extend-their-lead-at-the-top-of-the-league

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/655b8c21b7bfce061bd8d6f2/1700498606778/%2332+RBFC+v+AVDFC+-+SMPL+-+18.11.23

Edited November 22, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 12/11/2023 at 20:35, Rhodes said:

Unfortunately it wasn't to be for Real Bedford Ladies at McMullen Park this afternoon against a very good Billericay Town Ladies side who progress to the Second Round of the Women's FA Cup with a 5-0 win:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/real-bedford-ladies-exit-the-womens-fa-cup

There was a match programme for the  Real Bedford Ladies v Billericay Town Ladies FA Cup First Round tie on Sunday 12 November, also see another match report found and a post match interview from Billericay Town Ladies Management team who were clearly very professional in their approach to the tie at McMullen Park:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/655b8b89d05eae01528c624f/1700498381123/TH%231+RBFCL+v+BTFC+-+FACUP+-+12.11.23

http://womensfootballeast.com/match-report-542/

Edited November 22, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 10/11/2023 at 18:34, Rhodes said:

No problems again yesterday then for Rob Sinclair's men in difficult playing conditions at McMullen Park:
Saturday 4 November
Premier Division
Real Bedford 5 Arlesey Town 0

https://www.realbedford.com/news/real-bedford-head-to-the-top-of-the-league-with-a-win-over-arlesey-town

The match programme from the 5-0 win over Arlesey Town on Saturday 4 November was not posted previously, here it is:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/619758344d16e93725c39d0a/t/655b898194328a28e4d6bb0b/1700497865113/%2330+RBFC+v+ATFC+-+SMPL+-+04.11.23

[Rhodes]

It will hopefully be third time lucky for Real Bedford Ladies on Sunday (26 November) in order to complete their Eastern Region Women´s League Cup Second Round tie against Division One North Wootton Blue Cross Ladies following two postponements so far and frustratingly detracting them from League action. Last Sunday the tie was unsuccessfully switched to Wootton Blue Cross Ladies plush ground however it is back at McMullen Park on Sunday, kick off 1.30pm:

[Rhodes]

I see that Bedford Town still top the Southern League Division One Central table, by three points from adversaries North Leigh, in second place, however I still don't believe that Lee Bircham's men will have it all their own way, for the remainder of the campaign, in gaining automatic promotion back to Step 3 where they were embarrassingly relegated from last season. Despite 'impressively' remaining unbeaten, having won nine from twelve League games thus far, seven of those wins have been against Biggleswade FC, Hadley, Kidlington, Barton Rovers, Welwyn Garden City, Thame United and Stotfold who are all poor sides and only the two home victories over Ware and Cirencester Town have looked anything like good wins, the three drawn games, all in October, against Kings Langley, Waltham Abbey and lowly Aylesbury United weren't particularly good performances. Furthermore boss Lee Bircham will have been down on his knees giving thanks that the elements intervened in the recent abandonment with local rivals AFC Dunstable at The Eyrie when 1-0 down at the interval and looking very likely to lose their first League game of the campaign. Lets wait and see what happens however I will wager that there will definitely be two Southern League Division One Central fixtures between Bedford Town and Real Bedford next term.

Edited November 24, 2023 by Rhodes

[LondonEagle]

On 24/11/2023 at 12:21, Rhodes said:

I see that Bedford Town still top the Southern League Division One Central table, by three points from adversaries North Leigh, in second place, however I still don't believe that Lee Bircham's men will have it all their own way, for the remainder of the campaign, in gaining automatic promotion back to Step 3 where they were embarrassingly relegated from last season. Despite 'impressively' remaining unbeaten, having won nine from twelve League games thus far, seven of those wins have been against Biggleswade FC, Hadley, Kidlington, Barton Rovers, Welwyn Garden City, Thame United and Stotfold who are all poor sides and only the two home victories over Ware and Cirencester Town have looked anything like good wins, the three drawn games, all in October, against Kings Langley, Waltham Abbey and lowly Aylesbury United weren't particularly good performances. Furthermore boss Lee Bircham will have been down on his knees giving thanks that the elements intervened in the recent abandonment with local rivals AFC Dunstable at The Eyrie when 1-0 down at the interval and looking very likely to lose their first League game of the campaign. Lets wait and see what happens however I will wager that there will definitely be two Southern League Division One Central fixtures between Bedford Town and Real Bedford next term.

Wow, was the comfortable 2-0 away win at Hertford and a 9th clean sheet of the season a good win or not? Think they are now one of only 4 unbeaten teams in the league in the top 10 tiers of English football this season.   

Edited November 27, 2023 by LondonEagle

[LondonEagle]

Real Bedford ladies manager Dean Perrett departs by 'mutual consent.'

[Rhodes]

38 minutes ago, LondonEagle said:

Real Bedford ladies manager Dean Perrett departs by 'mutual consent.'

LondonEagle - Thanks, that's a surprise isn't it as Dean was only appointed in early June, I can only think he has been head hunted and made an offer he couldn't refuse, either by a men's or another ladies Club, following his amazing success in just four months at McMullen Park including the recent Women's FA Cup exploits in reaching the First Round proper. I guess all will become clearer a bit later on:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/dean-perrett-appointed-as-real-bedford-ladies-fc-first-team-manager

Edited November 28, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

17 hours ago, LondonEagle said:

Wow, was the comfortable 2-0 away win at Hertford and a 9th clean sheet of the season a good win or not? Think they are now one of only 4 unbeaten teams in the league in the top 10 tiers of English football this season.   

LondonEagle - Well watching the highlights on 'Eagle Vision' (posted below) I felt the hosts had the lions share of the early skirmishes and could easily have been 1-0, or even 2-0, ahead after just half an hour. Anyway lets see what happens at North Leigh on Saturday 9 December which appears to be the next League fixture and good luck this evening against Luton Town in the lucrative Bedfordshire FA Senior Challenge Cup Second Round tie at The Eyrie:

[Rhodes]

Real Bedford Ladies finally completed their Eastern Region Women´s League Cup Second Round tie on Sunday (26 November) against Division One North Wootton Blue Cross Ladies at McMullen Park following two frustrating postponements, winning 6-1 with goals from Chloe Martin, Erin Price and a clinical brace each from Tasha Fensome and Neve Mayes, see a match report:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/real-bedford-ladies-progress-in-the-league-cup-with-win-over-wootton-blue-cross

Edited November 28, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Highlights of the livestream and a match report from Real Bedford's 2-0 win over a dogged Baldock Town side on Saturday (25 November) at McMullen Park who were only put to bed after the hour mark by, who else, Joey Evans who has been a revelation, and stepped straight into Jordan Brown's boots, following his arrival from Moulton FC in the summer:

https://www.realbedford.com/news/the-pirates-produce-gutsy-win-over-baldock

[Rhodes]

Lets get ready to rumble for this evening and hopefully extend the lead over Milton Keynes Irish, at the top of the table, to five points and eight points on Saturday at Harpenden Town as they do not have a fixture:

https://www.realbedford.com/real-bedford-v-potton-united

[RallyInRaleigh]

What is going on with the coaching change on the ladies side?! A shocker, that. 

[Rhodes]

13 hours ago, RallyInRaleigh said:

What is going on with the coaching change on the ladies side?! A shocker, that 

RallyInRaleigh - Well, like I said yesterday, it's certainly a surprise after less than six months at McMullen Park since Dean's arrival in early June however my guess is that he has been head hunted and given a signed blank cheque by another men's or ladies Club following his amazing success at McMullen Park in such a short time and somehow taking the team to the Women's FA Cup First Round proper, it's just unfortunate they drew a very good Billericay Town Ladies side as otherwise they would have got even further in the competition. Don't forget Dean has a track record of Sebastian Coe proportions and following a very successful playing career with the likes of Yeovil Town he went into Management with Bishop's Stortford Swifts, Enfield Town Ladies and Harlow Town Ladies, incredibly taking the small Essex Club to the FA Women's National League which he would have no doubt done with Real Bedford Ladies had he remained at McMullen Park working with Peter McCormack with everything he needed at his disposal. Were you aware by the way that Dean almost died back in September 2019 when his heart stopped for 36 minutes as a result of a cardiac arrest, see the link below:

https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/dean-perrett-raises-money-for-the-air-ambulance-lifesavers-who-brought-him-back-from-the-brink-of-death-9156064/

[Rhodes]

No difficulties last night then at McMullen Park, Saturday's (2 December) visit to Harpenden Town's Rothamstead Park certainly looks winnable followed by a tricky looking visit to Dunstable Town's Creasey Park a week later (9 December). Hopefully both Harpenden Town and Dunstable Town will agree to the livestream for overseas fans to enjoy:

Tuesday 28 November 

Premier Division
Real Bedford 3 Potton United 1

[Rhodes]

It's a case of what might have been this weekend isn't it with the FA Vase Third Round ties taking place and Biggleswade United hosting Midland League Premier Division Whitchurch Alport, it could so easily have been Real Bedford, and perhaps should have been, as Rob Sinclair's men had every opportunity to kill off their fellow SSML opponents at McMullen Park on Saturday 11 November. Instead, albeit no consolation, Real Bedford make the trip to Rothamstead Park tomorrow to take on Harpenden Town which will be an interesting encounter, a win will extend the lead at the top of the SSML Premier Division table to eight points over Milton Keynes Irish. See the match programme:

https://www.harpendentownfc.co.uk/clubdocuments.aspx

Edited December 3, 2023 by Rhodes

[RallyInRaleigh]

Sadly no stream for the Harpenden Town match. 

[Rhodes]

26 minutes ago, RallyInRaleigh said:

Sadly no stream for the Harpenden Town match. 

Really, what is the reason for that, it's not like Harpenden Town to decline it as they are a decent Club or at least they were when I visited Rothamstead Park back in the day.