Real Bedford 2 (Allen 32', Stevens 57')
Bromsgrove Sporting 0

Real Bedford cruised to victory over Bromsgrove Sporting on something of a bizarre night at McMullen Park.

Goals from Josh Allen and Ben Stevens ensured Sporting would chalk up a routine success, on a night where a near 30 minute delay occurred during the first half due to floodlight issues.

The Pirates started the game brightly, with the game's first major highlight being an Archie Jones strike from distance that went narrowly wide.

The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute, as Josh Setchell teed up the talismanic Allen inside the area to tap home into an empty net.

The floodlight delay began minutes after the goal - around half of the ground's lights had gone out, with an unsatisfactory makeshift solution being explored at one point, in the form of portable lights used for pre-game warm-ups behind the goal as a replacement.

Referee Jamie Stevenson discussed the situation and possible outcomes with representatives from both teams, until the lights came back on and the match restarted after a delay of approximately half an hour.

The lead was doubled 12 minutes after the eventual interval, as Stevens neatly put the ball in the net from inside the area.

Bromsgrove's Tyrone Lewthwaite had a shot from close range charged down by keeper Craig King a minute after Stevens' goal.

Bedford substitutes Ben Weyman and Rio Deall both had opportunities in added time, but were kept out well by Sporting stopper Rory Brown.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entertainment Rating: 3/5
Reporter's Player of the Match: Josh Allen (Real Bedford)
Attendance: 209

Report: Max Banner