Bedford Athletic turned up looking fresh and up for a good battle on what can be described as an optimistic night. The newly named Bedford athletic team, sporting their newly acquired kit looked professional and full of energy. Fans flocked to the stands for the start of the game, eager to catch a glimpse of Vincent 'Vinny' Govoni, recently appointed manager, and James 'Rambo' Luddington, who has bravely undergone surgury following a very rash challenge on the striker during a previous friendly.
The game kicked off with the bedford team taking total control and putting new tactics into place. The managers wisdom obviously rubbing off on the players as possession was flowing and good passages of play.
Old ways soon came true, as the teams weakness of last season came back to bite them in the ass. A sloppy set-piece from the host team quickly netted them the first goal of the game against the flow of the game. The team looking to keep their heads up high quickly bounced back with a great counter attack. A long ball through to Carl Pearson, who finished comfortably into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Further chances came to both teams through good play. A selection of accurate through balls from Jhey Tompkins and Gavin Stackemann providing the threat for the team.
The players definately showed signs that lessons had been learned from the last season as the defenders held strong and played some good high pressure. The opposing team then put themselves back infront with what can only be described as a screamer, as their striker placed a bullet volley straight into the top corner, leaving the keeper, Kit Dixon who had been influencial in the game to this point, stuck to the spot as it flew in.
A further goal was then added to make the lead 3-1 when the defences concentration had just started to lack as the first half came to a close. The guys went into the break feeling cheated as they clearly deserved more for their performance. The experienced management team gave a strong team talk that lead to the guys believing that the game was far from over.
Bedford Athletic kicked off the second half with the same spirit that was shown in the first half. The defence holding strong against the fresh players being thrown on by their opponents. The pace in the game started to drop as both teams started to show the preseason fatigue. Both teams having strong chances to get a better position in the game.
Bedford Ath then being awarded a free-kick when Shane Horn was bundled over by the corner flag, was sharply whipped into the box only to be turned in with style by a defender giving Bedford a way back into the game. The oppositions head seemed to drop and Bedford noticed as they still pushed forward to get that equaliser.
A well placed free-kick from Daniel Ritchie, almost finding Garry Dearman to show that the defenders can be a threat as well, and when Shane Horn played an inspired ball over the top to Brendan Cunningham, were amongst further chances to claw the game back to a draw but unfortunately for the bedford team they fell just short with time running out.
Overall the game was a great show of what to be expected from the team in the season to come.
