PLAY-OFF PREVIEW: Boss Sinclair hoping it’s third time lucky for Real Bedford
Boss Rob Sinclair is hoping it will be third time lucky for his Real Bedford team as they take on Kettering Town in the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central play-offs on Wednesday night (ko 7.45pm).
A big crowd is expected at The Ledger Stadium, with the Poppies set to be roared on by a 600-strong travelling army of supporters.
It is third versus fourth, and although Real Bedford finished nine points better off than Kettering in the final standings, when it comes to the head to head there is literally only one winner.
The Poppies secured six points out of six against the Pirates.
The first win at Real Bedford came under Simon Hollyhead's management way back in the middle of August, with the Poppies prevailing 2-0.
Only a handful of Kettering players remain from that match, but the current line-up were celebrating earlier this month as the Poppies were 2-1 winners when the sides met at Latimer Park.
"It is an exciting tie for us," Sinclair told @realbedford.
"Kettering have beaten us twice in the league this season, and we want to go out and get our own back and win the game.
"That is what we will be looking to an we will be prepared for it."
Bedford are going into the game in good form, having won four of their final five matches of the league season, a run that started after that reverse at the Poppies.
Bedford were comfortable 3-1 winners at Bromsgrove Sporting on the final day of the regular campaign, and midfielder Jack Davies is hoping their momentum will carry then through the play-offs.
"These next two games are going to be massive," Davies told @realbedford.
"But momentum is a massive thing and we have had some really positive results going into the play-offs.
"When you get to this stage you have to face whoever you get, and we knew it could have been Kettering or it could have been Needham, but we are going to approach the game the same way as we always do.
"Hopefully we can go out and get a good result."