Bedford Town were once again denied all three points by another National League North late show, as play-off chasing Scarborough scored a 95th-minute penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw in Bridlington on Saturday (6 November).
The Eagles were in front twice courtesy of a customary strike from Tyrone Marsh and a second in as many games for Jago Godden, but were denied by Rio Allan’s penalty in the dying moments as the Eagles picked up a creditable draw in Yorkshire.
Despite a good point against a side in the higher echelons of the division, it’s the second time in as many weeks that a 95th minute strike has broken blue hearts.
Seven days ago, Tom Allan’s late header completed an outrageous comeback for Darlington at The Eyrie, securing a 4-3 victory to rise to fourth, and it was another Allan who dented Bedford this time, although only to gain a point.
Read: Bedford Town stunned by Darlington late show in seven-goal epic
Lee Bircham included two debutants in his starting line-up as Callum Ebanks slotted in up front alongside in-form Marsh after his loan move from Buxton, while Zimbabwe international, Adam Chicksen also started.
Marsh back in the goals
There were not many chances to speak of in the first third of the game; pot shots from Scarborough’s Luca Colville and Harry Green failed to trouble Ashmore in the Bedford goal, before the Eagles struck first thanks to a defensive mishap.
Ryan Whitley and Jake Hull were both at fault, as they were far too relaxed in possession and allowed a hungry Tyrone Marsh to steal in to tap home perhaps the easiest of his 17 league goals this season to put Bedford in the ascendency.
The lead only lasted three minutes however, as the impressive Green danced past two defenders to fire home into the bottom corner to restore parity.
The two sides went into the break level at one apiece, but within two minutes of the restart, Bedford had regained the lead.
Jago Godden, who scored one of three Bedford goals in last week’s defeat against Darlington, was back on the scoresheet as he pounced on a loose ball, thanks to another lapse in concentration from the home defence, firing home a second for Town.
The dangerous Green almost repeated his trick with a quick leveller, but his effort from distance cannoned off the post, while a scrambling Ryan Doherty expertly denied Dom Tear an equaliser.
Bedford also had half chances to extend their lead, with efforts from Phillips and Godden, while Ebanks also had a late chance blocked, but with the clock deep into added time, they were soon to be denied an excellent and morale-boosting three points.
Rio Allan won the penalty himself, and duly picked himself up to smash the resulting spot kick into the top corner.
It was a sickening sucker punch for an Eagles side who continue to hold their own in this division, while also continuing to drop points at key moments. They are now in 17th.
Scarborough remain just inside the play-off places in sixth, but would have been in 10th had it not been for Allan’s late intervention, showing just how strangled this division is.
Bedford Town are back at The Eyrie in three days’ time as the Bedfordshire Senior Cup resumes with a tie against Eyrie tenants, Biggleswade FC on Tuesday (9 November), before a rare Saturday off as other sixth tier sides resume FA Trophy action.
