Bishop’s Stortford beat nine-man Real Bedford 3-1 as they inflicted a first Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central defeat of the season on the leaders on Saturday (October 24).

Frank Norris scored twice and Tyrone Baker converted from the penalty spot as the Blues ended a four-game losing run in the league at the Grundon Community Stadium and climbed to 15th.

The Pirates had goalkeeper Craig King sent off after only 17 minutes and were forced to play the majority of the game with forward Tom Hitchcock between the sticks.

Jordan Ponticelli was also dismissed with nine minutes remaining, but the visitors remain one point clear at the summit as second-placed Bury Town suffered a 5-1 loss at Hitchin Town.

The table-toppers had a couple of early chances as Sam Collins shot wide from long range and Joshua Setchell had an effort saved by Calum Barnes.

Baker glanced a header wide before the Montserrat international was fouled by shot-stopper King as he ran through on goal, with the Pirates No 1 being shown a red card.

Hitchcock came off the bench to don the gloves and his first task was to push Alfie Wellens’ free kick round the post.

Ponticelli went close to giving the 10 men the lead with a first-time shot, but he saw it hit the post before Scott Simmons cleared the danger.

It was the Blues who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Hitchcock slipped as he rushed out to meet Baker, with the latter teeing up Norris to calmly slot home.

And Norris completed his brace in first-half added time from close range after Baker’s shot had bounced back off the bar.

The Pirates reduced the deficit early in the second period when Ben Stevens beat Barnes with a glancing header from a right-wing cross.

Conor Tee then had a chance to level matters, but he shot wide after getting on the end of a right-wing cut back in the middle of the box.

Stortford regained their two-goal advantage with 15 minutes remaining as Ponticelli brought down Wellens in the area and Baker rolled in the penalty.

Ponticelli then received two yellow cards in quick succession to become the second visiting player of the afternoon to be sent off.

Norris had a couple of chances to seal a hat-trick and make the result more emphatic, but the striker was unable to make contact with Aaron Greene’s fizzing cross at full stretch and he then had a shot from a tight angle saved.

Blues: Barnes, Powell (booked 61), Barton (Nardelli 90+1), Haines, Baker (Njie 81), Norris (booked 90+5), Russell (Titchmarsh 65), Wellens (Smith 76), Virciglio, Simmons (booked 49), Colletti (booked 41, Greene 56).

Real Bedford: King (sent off 17), Richardson, Cartwright (Morrell 46), Setchell (Kiala 57), Jones (booked 5, Hitchcock 19), Ponticelli (booked 80, 81, sent off 81), Stevens, Tee (Davies 77, booked 86), Mensah, Collins (Kane 77), Allen (booked 49).

Attendance: 224.