A quickly selected Bedford Athletic team turned up to Beverley Grove hoping to continue their new found form during an experimental pre-season. James 'Rambo' Luddington stepping in with the newly appointed manager taking a well-deserved holiday before the season starts on Sunday. James after being with the team for a couple of years chose the side to face this new team who have been placed in the Modplan 4th Division. The starting 11 saw players moved around and playing in slightly different roles from the previous Sunday’s game.
The game kicked off seeing a very scrappy 10 minutes. However very lucky turn of events saw the visitors put their noses in front inside the first 15 minutes. This was to set the tone for the next 30 minutes.
Bedford Ath tried to recreate the play that they had seen during their last game, by keeping possession and playing the ball along the floor, and there were passages of play where this was found. The back line switching the play from side to side with the words of their absent manager obviously still ringing in their ears.
The team were unlucky to get themselves back level; however the possession didn’t lead to a goal. This was capitalised on by the travelling team who saw themselves place 2 more goals and make the deficit 3-0 as the half was coming to a close.
A little bit of pride was rescued as the Bedford Ath boys managed to pull 1 goal back before the game entered half time. A quick team move saw Left back Mark Reynolds up the pitch. Mark receiving the ball and placing the ball perfectly into the area. Shockingly to the team, this ball found its way to Centre Back Daniel Ritchie, who would have looked incredibly out of position in the opposition’s penalty area. The ball fell to his weaker foot, but he gingerly (see what i did there) placed the ball round the keeper to bring the score back to 3-1.
The side, who seemed a little lacklustre during the break tried to find some inspiration from their stand-in manager James. They took the positives from the first half, and carried it over into the second, hoping to rescue the game as it was within reaching distance.
It was more of the same pass and move from the Bedford athletic boys in the second half. Although, old habits started to creep in, as long balls seemed to be played more and more as the game went on. Good runs from Carl Pearson and Brendan Cunningham providing options for the team, but it was to no avail for the side.
AFC Highbury then managed to place the ball in the net 2 more times, catching goal keeper Kit Dixon, who to this game had been praised for his reflexes in the recent games. There was nothing the keeper could do as the goals were of a very good quality.
The game got a little heated towards the end, as one of the AFC Highbury players saw the first yellow card of the pre-seasons played against the Bedford Ath team. The game then came to a close as the visibility started to get a little low, and the darkness took over.
Overall, now that the final friendly has been played (and I won’t look like an idiot having to do another pre-season report) the team are looking forward positively to the first League game of the season. The side kick off the new season in league 4 against another new team Old Boys. This is also the first Home game of the season so hopefully the team can start the season off on the right foot.
MOM for the game was a Tie between CB Daniel Ritchie and CM Fabio Perrotta, but after some difficult delibiration, assistant manager selected the Center back just above.
