Gary Setchell’s Bedford Town side are out of the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage after falling to high-flying Kings Lynn Town in a replay last night.
The draw at this stage of the competition could not have been tougher; Kings Lynn sitting top of National League North – English football’s sixth tier, after relegation from the National League last season.
Bedford Town had beaten local rivals Kempston Rovers 2-1 to reach this stage, but the challenge went up a notch with the Eagles facing a tough trip to Norfolk on Saturday.
Read: Bedford Town overcome spirited Kempston Rovers to advance in FA Cup
What transpired was a fantastic performance in which they earned a replay back at The Eyrie following a 1-1 draw at The Walks.
“It was a bit of a classic cup tie”
Eagles manager, Gary Setchell admitted the ninety minutes “took a lot out” of his team, but they should be mighty proud at holding a side many teams have not managed to do in the early stages of this season at a higher level.
It could have been better for Bedford Town had they managed to cling on to a lead gained in the closing moments of the first half; Drew Richardson bundling the ball home at the back post.
The lead was short-lived thanks to Lynn’s captain, Michael Clunan but Bedford Town showed true character to hold on to a 1-1 draw and bring the sixth-tier leaders back to The Eyrie.
“They looked better with the ball but we had the guts and the drive. It took so much out of the lads but we look to Tuesday now”, said Setchell on Saturday evening.
517 fans turned out for yesterday’s replay under the floodlights, but Kings Lynn found a gear they didn’t find on Saturday and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Gold Omotayo – Kings Lynn’s star man this season – opened the scoring after twenty minutes after capitalising on a slip from Charley Sanders before Josh Coulson provided a hammer blow with Lynn’s second on the brink of half-time.
A third from Cameron Hargreaves on the hour mark killed the tie, but across 180 minutes, Bedford Town should be proud of their efforts and will take a lot of positives heading into what is a busy league calendar.
King’s Lynn go on to face fellow National League North side, Kettering Town in the third qualifying round on the first weekend of October.
Attention for Bedford Town turns back to the Southern League Central Premier Division, as the Eagles host 18th-placed, Ilkeston Town at The Eyrie on Saturday.
Real Bedford maintain 100% start
Across the road at McMullen Park, Real Bedford have been making a storming start to South Midlands Division One, and scoring tons of goals to boot as they stamp their authority on the division.
Last night’s 5-0 victory against Moulton gives them seven wins from seven with a goal difference of 22, leaving them two points clear of near neighbours Ampthill Town.
A stunning Matty Clifford free-kick opened proceedings last night, with debutant Jim Burnside bagging a brace alongside Raiqwan Joseph and a Tom Hitchcock penalty to complete the latest rout.
