The Eagles’ pre-season continued on Saturday (29 July) after a run out to Peterborough on Tuesday.
Facing a QPR side, composed of mostly development players with a sprinkling of first-teamers, Bedford Town started strong with a free kick in the second minute won by McClelland.
Connolly converted this into a quick goal to give the Eagles a bright start.
However, highs were diminished quickly after as Armstrong ran past McDonald to claw back a goal for QPR in the seventh minute.
Only a few minutes later, a solid period of play followed for Bedford as a lovely one-two between Watkins and Towell led to a dangerous cross from the latter.
Bush was solid in the back with his hands full marking Armstrong – a first-team player for QPR.
Green had his second impressive long-range effort in the 18th minute, after his first strike – in the eleventh – was just off target.
A nice corner by Watkins was dangerously whipped in during the 28th minute, but sadly missed.
Then, against the run of play, Pedder scored for QPR in the 35th minute, bringing them up two to one at halftime.
The second half started with a trialist – who came on for McClelland in the last minutes of the first half – shooting over the bar in the 46th minute.
Said trialist continued to look lively in the opening of the second half, and another trialist linked up with Blake in the 50th minute for a nice move down the left.
The game opened up a lot more during the second half with the Eagles looking lively.
Two trialists continued to shine with great link-up in front of goal in the 59th minute.
Blake had a brilliant shot in the 71st minute, which was set up well by the same trialist who came on for McClelland in the first half.
Blake’s talents persisted with a nice cross into the penalty box in the 72nd minute. Then, McDonald made a great point-blank save only a minute later.
In a mirroring of the first half, Green played well in the second, with a solid and fierce tackle in the 75th minute.
Two chances came for The Eagles in close concession; a half volley just wide in the 78th minute by Watkins, and a nice shot by a trialist in the 82nd minute.
In the last ten minutes of the game, Bedford Town looked stronger than the Championship side, however the fixture sadly ended in a 2-1 defeat.
After the game, I spoke to Lee Bircham about how the day had gone, and the impending season.
He told me how valuable he has found the experience this pre-season has given the squad.
“Whilst it may have been shifted around quite heavily, this has led to fixtures against harder opponents,” he said.
Today’s game against a strong QPR side highlights this as it gives the team a chance to play against a team that they won’t be playing the likes of in the league – making the strong performance even more impressive.
There isn’t too much focus put on results according to Lee, as a couple of sloppy goals put the Eagles behind. However, these are needed at this time to get them out of the team’s system before the season starts.
All in all, Lee leaves the game with more selection problems, and pride in how hard the team worked and how well the side has bonded.
Onwards and upwards to AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Tuesday.
