Double figure cushion at the top for BHC

Bedford had beaten St Albans L2’s 2-1 away, earlier in the season but it was a tough, bruising encounter between two highly competitive sides and Tom Hewitt’s squad were expecting more of the same with the Tangerines roster of experienced players who have inspired them to joint second place in the league at the start of play. Bedford have recently been hit by a serious injury to reliable centre back Elli Priston sustained in a mixed game and now after surgery to a broken thumb, she will spend at least a month on the side-lines; otherwise Bedford were at full strength.

Bedford started the game well and created two excellent early chances. Steph Holyoak was denied at the near post by the Saints keeper before Andrea Mason had what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal chalked off by the umpires. Bedford’s midfield of Becca Budd and Charlotte Holland were quick to pressurise their St Albans counterparts and throughout the game Bedford’s defensive unit was very tight and organised. The tangerines looked to press Bedford down their right, but Beth Noble at left defence enjoyed an outstanding game with some composed, clean tackling. As the first half wore on Bedford were finding openings at goal, harder to come by as defences were on top and only one pass across the face of goal troubled Bedford’s number one Leanne Sargeant.

Into the second half and Bedford needed to remain composed, focused and patient. The performance overall was good especially considering this was the first competitive game in 7 weeks. Typically Emma Pinny was at the heart of Bedford’s play, picking up loose balls in the midfield and driving the team forward. Clear cut chances were still at a premium for Bedford although Sam Turner did have a snap shot and Pippa Jones was inches away from connecting at the back post. The best chance for St Albans came midway through the first half when a lifted strike heading for the top corner was inadvertently deflected over the crossbar by a St Albans forward. Bedford kept surging forward in search of the games vital goal, although at times they were guilty of trying to take on too many players rather than flowing pass and move hockey in the final third however with less than 10 minutes left to play came the games decisive moment right out of the top draw. SJ Darrington took a side line and transferred the ball crossfield to MOTM Beth Noble and she fizzed an outstanding pinpoint pass into the circle which Kate Costin dived full length at, to emphatically deflect the ball high into the net.
The game was not yet done; Jenna Maclaren and Rachel Jackson still had to be on their guard to keep things tight defensively whilst Costin broke down the right and found Mason right of the goal but the final ball to Budd was just out of her reach. Bedford deservedly came out on top and the win was an eleventh straight win for Bedford and with Wapping dropping points, the gap to the 4 teams now in 2nd place is 10 points however Bedford will need to guard against complacency with a tricky away trip to the league’s top scorers Norwich Dragons.