Bedford Town are still two points clear at the top of Southern League Premier Central after a 1-1 draw with play-off chasing Harborough Town, in a game that saw both sides end with ten men.
Junior Gyamfi’s early strike was cancelled out by Harborough’s Alex Morris, but the game ended in ugly fashion as Bedford Town’s Harlain Mbayo and Harborough’s Paul Malone were both sent off deep into injury time as tempers came to a head.
To describe the away side as tricky customers in the current climate would be an understatement.
With just one loss in their previous 17 league games before this Saturday’s fixture, the Bees were brimming with confidence.
While Harborough’s occupation of the fifth and final playoff position may have placed an impetus on them to secure a result at The Eyrie, it was nothing in comparison to the weight of expectation upon league leaders, Bedford Town.
After eight minutes, that weight was lifted.
Following a tetchy start, space began to open up for the Eagles who began to work the ball around with assiduity. In one of their first forays forward, Panter dug out a cross from the right flank which Blake touched down neatly.
Arriving late into the box to aid Blake was Junior Gyamfi, who took it off his captain’s toes before rifling a low drive into the bottom left corner, meaning Bedford have opened the scoring in 7 of their last 8 league games.
The defensive machinations of Bircham’s Bedford system were then set into full flow, allowing Harborough Town very little space in the final third. However, the Bees did still create chances, with Josh Walsh striking a 20-yard effort just over the bar.
The closest Mitch Austin’s side came was a flurry of chances at the end of the half for their leading scorer, Ben Stephens.
The opportunities were all but identical as he was played in on the right side of the penalty area by Morgan and Burgess respectively.
Both times Stephens’ efforts were smothered, firstly by Macauley and then by Carl Mensah to deny the his side a timely equaliser right before the break.
It would be the second half before Harborough truly found their rhythm, with a curler from youngster, Jutorre Burgess tipped behind for a corner kick.
As the pressure on Macauley’s goal began to intensify, a long throw-in for the visitors from the right touchline represented an opportunity to wreak havoc.
Josh Walsh hurled the ball into a mob of yellow shirts and it was the ungainly figure of Alex Morris who rose the highest to nod into the bottom right corner, sending the rowdy away end into a fit of celebration.
Late chaos amongst underwhelming ending
It looked as if both sides were content with a point as the game came to an underwhelming close, and with Harborough’s last two games finishing 1-1, it appeared the fate of this one was all but sealed with the same result.
Bedford had lacked their usual cutting edge, with all but Gyamfi seeming unable to get out of second gear.
However, as the final seconds ticked over, a seemingly innocuous coming together between Paul Malone of Harborough and Harlain Mbayo of Bedford Town escalated into a full scale brawl between the two sides.
Once the dust had settled on the 22-man bust-up both Mbayo and substitute, Malone were given their marching orders by the referee, with the pair having seemingly grabbed a hold of each other’s neck amidst the melee.
Many fans suggested they were off to settle the score in the changing rooms following their respective dismissals.
As for the result, it edges Bedford one step closer to automatic promotion to step two. They now sit two points clear at the top of the league thanks to draws for Telford, Kettering Town and Halesowen in behind.
Next for the Eagles is a trek to the east coast to face Lowestoft.
With their survival in the division very much hanging in the balance, the Trawler Boys are unlikely to roll over for Bircham’s boys, who have just four games to navigate at the top of the league and seal what would be a famous season for Bedford Town.
