Bedford Town manager, Lee Bircham praised his players’ efforts and for “running through brick walls” after their five game unbeaten run in National League North came to an end on Tuesday night (4 November) with a 2-1 defeat at promotion chasing, Kidderminster Harriers.
The Eagles once again were quick out of the blocks with another 5th-minute goal for the returning Ellis Brown, but first half efforts from Jack Clarke and Dan Mooney helped full-time Kidderminster move up to fourth in the division.
Confidence at The Eyrie is sky high as four wins in five saw Bedford Town rise to 12th after Josh Phillips’ winner at Oxford City on Saturday (1 November), but while their efforts were once again praised at Aggborough, they were unable to extend that unbeaten run on Tuesday night.
Read: Phillips winner helps Bedford Town to another Oxford City triumph
Phillips’ loan from Luton Town has been extended into the new year, while a fifth goalkeeper of the season was used on Tuesday night as Joe Wright joined on loan from Barnet until 1 December to fill the gap vacated by the much-loved, Nathan Ashmore.
Town lose early lead
The Eagles were also boosted by a return for dynamic winger, Ellis Brown and it was he who netted another early goal for Bedford.
Excellent pressing work from Tyrone Marsh disrupted the Kidderminster defence, and they ended up giving the ball away in dangerous territory to Brown who confidently slotted home after just five minutes.
Unlike Saturday, that lead lasted just three minutes as Jack Clarke equalised for Kidderminster, heading home a tantalising Joe Foulkes cross to restore parity.
It wouldn’t be long before the hosts were ahead, with all three of the game’s goals scored inside the first twenty minutes. Owen Evans was unable to finish after a sensational pass from Dan Mooney, but the Harriers were soon ahead in fortuitous fashion.
Mooney was the man to deservedly score the winner, taking over a Kurt Willoughby run in the left channel and letting fly, with the ball deflecting wickedly off the foot of Cole Kpekawa and looping over Wright into the net.
Wright did well to keep Kidderminster from extending their lead at the end of the opening 45 minutes; first from a Tobi Sho-Silva header and then from a skidding Mooney effort that made life difficult for the latest Bedford shot stopper in wet conditions.
Kidderminster also felt they should have a penalty as Greg Taylor tackled Willoughby with the Harriers man in on goal, but with the referee waving away vociferous calls for a spot kick, Kidderminster went into the break just a single goal to the good.
“They deserved the win”
The chances kept coming for the home side into the second half as the dangerous Mooney ballooned a good chance well over before Wright continued to keep his side in the game on debut, denying both Ryley Reynolds and Evans.
Marsh had by far the best opportunity of the second half to snatch a point for Bedford late on, but his effort from the edge of the area was kept out by Christian Dibble, before Willoughby had a guilt-edged chance to put the game to bed in the 88th minute but fired wide.
Despite that, the home side held on comfortably in the end as their own pursuit of promotion gains some traction, adding to their own unbeaten run which stands at five in all competitions.
“I’m so proud of these boys every week”, said Bedford Town manager, Bircham post-match.
“We’ve come here and we haven’t been at our best, but they gave it everything and run through brick walls for us and that’s the bare minimum I ask.
“We’ve got our noses in front, and they’ve scored a good header and a second that would have flown over the bar the other 100 times.
“I can’t fault the effort after a tough journey up here on a Tuesday, against a team who have probably had their feet up all day. We’ve been at work all day, got on the coach and come up here while they’ve been able to prepare properly.
“They were probably the better team today, but I can’t ask for more and they did the club proud”, he added.
After what has felt like a gruelling six weeks travelling to various locations in the northern half of the country, Bedford Town are now back at The Eyrie for three consecutive home games.
Merthyr Town from South Wales are the next visitors to The Eyrie this Saturday (8 November), before one of the FA Cup’s underdog stories in Buxton visit three days later on 11 November.
Bedford Town have also been drawn against Northern Premier League Midlands side, Anstey Nomads in the second round of the FA Trophy which takes place on 15 November at The Eyrie.
