Real Bedford 4-4 St Albans City
International Club Friendly | July 29, 2026 | 02:45 BST

Fans at the McMullen Park Stadium were treated to an eight-goal thriller as Real Bedford and St Albans City played out a pulsating 4-4 draw in their pre-season friendly. The match, played in the early hours, served as an ideal workout for both sides, with end-to-end action from the first whistle to the last.

An Explosive First Half

Real Bedford, competing in the Southern League Division One Central, started brightly. Their high-pressing approach paid off in the 6th minute when Josh Mulvany intercepted a loose pass and fired a powerful shot from 20 yards into the bottom corner. St Albans responded almost immediately; a quick break down the right flank saw Sam Merson equalise with a composed finish in the 11th minute.

The game swung in Bedford's favour again when striker Liam Dulson latched onto a through ball and slotted past the keeper in the 19th minute. But St Albans levelled once more before the half-hour mark through a close-range header from Dave Diedhiou. The first half alone delivered four goals and set the tone for a chaotic encounter.

Second Half Spectacle

After the interval, both managers made multiple substitutions, yet the pace did not drop. Real Bedford restored their lead in the 52nd minute as substitute Lamar Ngandu smashed home a rebound after a goalmouth scramble. Moments later, Bedford thought they had killed the game off when Dan Walker curled a free kick over the wall and into the net, making it 4-2 in the 64th minute.

St Albans, however, showed tremendous character. Reduced to ten men briefly due to an injury substitution that left them short, they fought back with two quick goals. First, Zak Brown volleyed home from a corner in the 77th minute, then substitute Liam Humbles poked home the equaliser in the 83rd minute after a scramble in the box. The final minutes saw both teams push for a winner, but neither could find the decisive strike.

Match Highlights and Implications

• Four goals for each side: a true exhibition of attacking football in a pre-season setting.
• Real Bedford's Liam Dulson (one goal, one assist) impressed with his hold-up play and link-up.
• St Albans' resilience, coming from two goals down, will please manager Jack Green as they prepare for the National League South season.
• The draw continues a positive pre-season for both clubs, with each having scored freely in earlier friendlies.

For Real Bedford, this result against a side two divisions higher signals promising progress. Head coach Rob Sinclair praised his team's attacking intent but noted defensive improvements are needed before league action resumes. St Albans City, meanwhile, will take confidence from their never-say-die attitude as they fine-tune their squad ahead of the new campaign.