Bedford Town gained a much-needed National League North victory on Tuesday night (30 December) as a late Carl Mensah winner helped them to an impressive 4-2 win over King’s Lynn Town.
The Eagles battled back from 2-1 down, as second half strikes from Jago Godden, Mensah and Callum Ebanks downed the Linnets to put more space between them and the drop zone.
That gap now stands at six points and Tuesday’s triumph is Bedford Town’s first win in eight league games, although they have been picking up points at regular intervals throughout December.
They had drawn three of their last four, with manager Lee Bircham claiming that his side, “can’t be coming to places and demanding wins”, after their 2-2 draw at bottom club, Leamington on Boxing Day.
Read: Marsh double not enough for three points at bottom side Leamington
While it’s true Bedford Town continue to compete against every team at step two, the pressure for a league win was beginning to mount, but they released some of that in an admirable performance in front of 1,026 fans at The Eyrie.
Level at the break
King’s Lynn had the game’s first good opportunity as Tom Wilson planted a free header over the crossbar after just three minutes, and they were made to pay as Bedford Town raced up the other end to score.
A dangerous free kick from the left channel was only half cleared, and it fell to Junior Gyamfi who headed it back across goal to the feet of former King’s Lynn man, Greg Taylor who turned and smashed an effort through the legs of goalkeeper, Paul Jones.
Ross Crane and La’Sean Sealey had opportunities to equalise, both hitting straight at Ashmore, but it was the latter who won the penalty that saw King’s Lynn equalise, as he was bundled over by Gyamfi, with captain Michael Clunan despatching the spot kick.
The only other opportunities in an otherwise combative first half came from distance, as Tyrone Marsh nearly caught out Jones from 45 yards, before a much more harmless Wilson for the visitors effort flew well over the stand behind Ashmore’s goal.
The second half began in scrappy fashion, with only half chances and a waved away penalty appeal for Lynn to speak of, but come the hour mark, the visitors took the lead for the first time.
It came thanks to a wonderful cross from deep in the right channel by Will Van Lier, and it was met by Crane who guided an excellent header back across goal and into the far corner, as it looked like the Eagles were once again going to be on the wrong end of an Eyrie comeback.
Mensah is the match winner
Unlike previous weeks however, in which late equalisers and winners have cost Bedford points, they had almost thirty minutes to respond, and they did so in clinical fashion, although they did have the opposition keeper to thank.
In the 72nd minute, Jones spilled a regulation cross from Josh Phillips, and the ball landed at the feet of a grateful Jago Godden to smash home the equaliser.
From there, Bedford Town grew in confidence; Gyamfi had a low shot blocked while Marsh had a wonderful opportunity to regain the lead for the Eagles only to send a header over the bar from six yards.
It was not to matter, as a popular figure around The Eyrie came off the bench to score the winner in the 87th minute.
Greg Sandiford’s corner found towering centre back, Mensah who headed home the winner despite the best efforts of the pink shirts on the goal line, but a wave of the assistant’s flag signalled the ball was in, sending the fans into raptures.
King’s Lynn had another handball shout waved away in stoppage time, but with visiting players flooding forward, the ball broke clear for Bedford striker, Callum Ebanks who held off the challenges of a backtracking defender to place home the clincher off the post.
It confirmed a character-filled and absorbing 4-2 victory for Bedford Town who draw level on points with King’s Lynn after their seventh league win of the season, and aided by Alfreton being the only other side to win on Tuesday night from teams in the bottom half.
Next up is a tricky game against second place, AFC Fylde at The Eyrie on Saturday (3 January), before a trip to play-off chasing Curzon Ashton and key games against strugglers, Southport and Alfreton.
