After a hard fought 1-1 draw at Dereham before Christmas, Bedford expected a tough penultimate game to the season as they hosted a strong Dereham side at Chester road. An uncharacteristically early push back was required due to the ladies relegation decider meant the meet time of 10.30 caught out the normally prompt Bilham, McDonald and Mason and a fine from the enforcer ensued.

After a solid, if unspectacular warm up, Bedford made a mockery of the early start time playing at a relentless pace for the opening 20minutes which the visitors had no answer to. Smooth, quick passing hockey as well as solid work in defence, especially from Man of the Match Webster meant that a brace from both Chigwada (FG x 2) and Drummond (FG, PC) gave the hosts a 4-0 lead at the turnaround.

In true Bedford style the second half started with the men in maroon pushing forward looking for more goals which meant some structure was lost and the impetus was taken by the away side who managed to get more quality ball to their quick, dangerous forwards in better positions. Dereham pulled a goal back from a short corner, a forward reacting quicker to a loose ball from the first strike, before McDonald (FG) added another after good work from Wilson on the baseline. Dereham pulled another goal back from a well worked short corner before a mazy run and attempted 'Reversy Percy' flick from Wilson was touched over the line by Lane in true poacher style. There was still time for some more Dereham pressure, enabling them to knock in another PC, this time the ball taking a cruel deflection off the stick of the on rushing DOD Bilham, wrong footing Dolan in the Bedford goal. Dolan was able to take back some glory however, saving a penalty flick awarded at the final whistle after Turner had decided not to bother trying to stop the ball on the line with his stick, electing to kick it a couple of times to make sure the umpire definitely saw it.

So a topsy turvy 6-3 victory in the end for Bedford, who really did play some lovely stuff, and in truth had the game won in the first 20minutes. They will be annoyed to have shipped 3 goals however, and will need to be much stronger against mid table rivals Cambridge City in their final game of the season.