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BEDFORD IGNITE THEIR SEASON

BEDFORD IGNITE THEIR SEASON

Paul Henwood20 Oct 2015 - 08:26
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Bedford Bounce Back From Slow Start

This week the first team travelled to the National Stadium to face Wapping in their Eastern Prem A encounter. Unfortunately for the skipper with a good performance around the corner, dick of the day was sewn up early as he took the A10 turning rather than following the M11 and subsequently hit every red light in London!

With less preparation time than usual, the boys had a brief team talk and went out inspired to get the three points, with the main point from shorter being not to concede!

The game started at a high tempo with Bedford putting themselves under pressure, concerning early penalty corners. Drummond was unlucky enough to see a smart save from a deflection on the left post clip his foot and a penalty flick awarded which was duly converted. Shorter's last words in the changing rooms were soon out of the window and Bedford had to pick themselves up.

The response was fantastic. Rich McDonald took the game by the scruff of the neck and went direct. A quick sideline and neat ball into the D found Appleton who neatly played in Chigwada, who duly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The boys didn't let up and soon took the lead as Appleton found McDonald, who converted.

Wapping looked to regroup and put Bedford under more pressure before Webster thought he would go awol after playing the bid into midfield. Despite loud cries from Shorter in the dugout for the centre back to hold his position, Webster decided make a run through the centre of the pitch. With some neat work on the left wing the ball ended up loose in the D, which Webster thought needed roofing on his reverse across the keeper (would love to know where it was meant to go!) for his first league goal for the club. This sent the boys into half time 3-1 up.

Away from usual tradition, the boys went into the changing rooms, knowing that only half the job was done and made sure that despite the performance, the focus was on going out and securing the win.

The second half started slowly, with Bedford putting themselves under pressure with some sloppy passing. However, Drummond in a new role in the middle took charge of the game and earned his man of the match award. By getting himself on the ball more and distributing with aplomb the game changed. With reduced pressure on the back line, Bedford soon got back into their rhythm and starting causing Wapping more and more problems. Drummond with a cross field aerial found Henwood on the stretch who used his best anti-skill to earn a short corner. With a well worked corner, Hoggett found himself on the ball and took a well taken fourth.

Wapping again galvanised, and soon got themselves back in the game with a flick straight past Henwood on the right post.

The boys soon picked it up again and with their forwards working tirelessly in the press, forced Wapping into mistakes and gave them few opportunities to get the ball forward as they made sure of the three points.

Next weekend Bedford play host to Old Loughtonians at Chester Road fresh off the back of a strong performance and will look to put back to back victories together and keep their season moving forwards.

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