Bedford Town are just one point away from a special title at step three after a 9th win in 11 league games at Hitchin Town kept them three points clear of Kettering Town in Southern League Premier Central.
The Eagles were ten minutes away from celebrating the league title here and now, only for Jonathan Edwards’ 80th minute winner for Kettering at bottom side, Biggleswade Town to delay the party for all at The Eyrie.
Bedford Town kept up their end of the bargain with a 2-1 victory at Hitchin’s Top Field, with both Eddie Panter and Leon Lobjoit on the scoresheet for the second time in three days as Lee Bircham’s men continue to defy non-league football logic.
They now need just a point at home to Stourbridge in front of a home crowd on Saturday (26 April) to seal the deal.
Lobjoit was the match winner in the reverse fixture between these two sides on Boxing Day, and it was the prolific striker on hand once again to drag his side over the line with his 27th goal of the season late into the second half.
It was not as late as some of his winners this season, but Lee Bircham won’t care if his side score in the first minute or the last, as long as he brings home three points, and once again, his team have done just that.
Long throw tactic working wonders
Bircham named an unchanged starting line-up against Hitchin Town, just 48 hours after seeing off Stratford Town at The Eyrie, and his decision paid dividends as his numbers 9 and 10 did the damage.
Read: Bedford Town take one step closer to the title with tight Stratford triumph
The early throws of this game, in front of over 1,000 fans at Top Field, were scrappy with Lewis Franklin’s effort from distance floating over before Lobjoit’s shot narrowly went wide as both sides traded chances.
Sam Brown’s long throw-in was once again causing havoc; Mensah’s effort from one was cleared off the line before the game’s opening goal came via the hands of Brown, with Panter taking the plaudits.
The Hitchin defence let the long throw bounce in the penalty area, and eventually it fell to the feet of Panter level with the penalty spot who found a gap through a body of players to slot home the opener.
Seb Stacey in the Hitchin goal stopped the Eagles extending their lead before half-time, down quickly at his near post to deny Ryan Blake, as Bedford Town, one goal up with Kettering drawing, found themselves one half of football away from destiny.
That destiny blew apart in the opening moments of the second half, and in controversial fashion.
Panter looked to have doubled Bedford’s lead three minutes into the second half, slotting home for what appeared to be his brace but a very late offside flag scuppered the celebrations, before Hitchin went up the other end and equalised.
Jacob Hutchinson – who had come out a new man for the second half – was the goalscorer as he fired home from the edge of the box, before the Hitchin striker almost turned the game on its head only for Macauley to save at the second time of asking.
Macauley was on hand again with an excellent double save – again from Hutchinson – as Hitchin threatened to ruin the party, but there was only one man on the pitch who has forged a reputation in doing that, and he was wearing Bedford orange.
Again, the long throw of Brown was the catalyst as he propelled another one into the Hitchin box that flew over a stranded goalkeeper on to the left boot of Lobjoit who couldn’t miss on the volley from a yard out.
The scenes of pandemonium behind the goal from a strong contingent of Bedford fans told its own story as they held on for a second 2-1 victory in three days, and despite Kettering’s 1-0 win at Biggleswade Town, the fate of the Eagles is in their own hands.
They need just a draw at home to Stourbridge – who now can’t reach the play-offs – to secure back-to-back promotions and a barely believable step three title that will go down in the history books as one of Bedford Town’s best ever.
You can purchase your ticket to the season-defining clash against Stourbridge here. The game kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 26 April.
