Many may have understood if Kempston Rovers’ fine start to the season would have suffered after the departure of Chris Nunn to Rushden and Diamonds, but the new management team at Hillgrounds have started life well in Southern League Central Division One.
Read: Kempston Rovers manager Chris Nunn leaves for Rushden and Diamonds
A battling 2-2 draw at Barton Rovers was supplemented by a fine 2-0 win yesterday (Monday) against Biggleswade Town at Hillgrounds as new manager, Ashley Fuller settles in to leading the team he once scored a hatful of goals for.
Two postponements due to frozen pitches had perhaps helped Kempston reset after three straight league losses and by Boxing Day, they were raring to go but were held by Barton Rovers.
A Ben Baker penalty and a fine finish from James Hatch looked to be giving Kempston all three points before ex-Rovers player, Scott Joseph denied Fuller the perfect start to his management career at Rovers with a late equaliser for Barton.
Barton remain in the relegation zone just two points behind Aylesbury United, with Harlow Town having withdrawn from the league.
Home debut victory for Fuller and Duggan
Jonny Duggan has joined Ash Fuller in the Rovers dugout as his assistant manager, and their first home assignment came against a former club for both in Biggleswade Town yesterday.
Two goals at the end of each half was enough for Rovers; Ben Stevens pouncing on a saved Hatch header in first half stoppage time while Pemi Aderoju slotted home a Ben Baker pass late on to seal the three points.
The win keeps Kempston Rovers in 11th place, two points ahead of Biggleswade Town in 12th although the Waders do have two games in hand after an impressive FA Cup run earlier in the season.
Four points from their opening two games is a return Fuller and Duggan will be mighty pleased with and with two winnable games ahead in Highworth Town and Walthamstow, the mood at Hillgrounds may well hit the heights of early season.
Davis loses out
A late Matthew Bateman goal for Royston Town gave the Hertfordshire side all three points against Bedford Town in Paul Davis’ first game in charge with the Eagles.
Shomari Barnwell had given the hosts an early lead at Garden Walk but goals from Joe Butterworth and Connor Tomlinson either side of half time gave Bedford Town a lead to defend.
It was short-lived however, as Kian Harness tapped home a rebound on the hour mark before Eagles hearts were broken by Bateman to give Royston a 3-2 win, leapfrogging Bedford Town into 12th.
Bedford Town will hope to bounce back against lowly Hednesford Town back at The Eyrie on Saturday, with Davis hoping to pick up his first points as Eagles boss.
“I thought we were the better side in the first half”, said Davis post-match, but he also lamented the defensive frailties that he has vowed to work on in the coming weeks.
“I said to the players after, you very rarely get something out of the game if you concede three, so we need to work on our defence and work on keeping clean sheets.”
The aim for Bedford Town is ultimately to stay in the division, before aiming to consolidate their place in Southern League Premier Central and with a busy January ahead, the task is very much on for Davis and Tomlinson.
Real Bedford hold commanding lead despite loss
Real Bedford are still top of Spartans South Midlands Division One despite a surprising 3-1 loss at home to 17th-placed Langford yesterday but they are twelve points ahead of chasing Rugby Borough after nine consecutive wins before yesterday.
A 3-1 victory against Ampthill Town on 28th December followed eleven goals in two games against Wellingborough Whitworth and Thame United Reserves respectively in December.
They were two superb wins in a division that Rob Sinclair’s side continue to dominate, but Sinclair will be keen to take one game at a time in their pursuit of a much expected league title victory.
