Bedford Town responded to their South Wales nightmare in the perfect fashion on Saturday (21 February) with a 2-0 win against mid-table Chorley at The Eyrie.
Goals in either half from Josh Castiglione and Carl Mensah were enough for the Eagles to once again create some breathing space towards the bottom of National League North, with Lee Bircham’s side now five points above the relegation zone.
Those of a Bedford Town persuasion will have been keen to put their 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Merthyr Town behind them as quickly as possible, and they were able to do so with a vital victory on Saturday.
Read: Bedford Town concede seven in Merthyr Town thrashing
There have been more comings and goings at The Eyrie throughout the week, with midfielder Ryan Blackman leaving the club, but the news was quickly squashed by the announcement of a third loan move of the season for Nathan Ashmore.
The Boreham Wood goalkeeper, who turns 36 on Sunday, has been in and out of the Bedford camp this season, but his presence injected some much needed reassurance to a bruised back line, who kept just their second clean sheet since 11 November against Chorley.
Castiglione brings cheer to uneventful first half
The game itself was a cagey one, with neither goalkeeper forced into any difficult saves.
One of the first period’s best opportunities came in just the second minute when an Adam Blakeman corner was not dealt with by the Eagles defence, with the ball falling to the feet of Altrincham loanee, Owen German who sliced narrowly wide.
Blakeman, who saw most of the ball courtesy of his long throws and set pieces, forced Ashmore into a simple save from a direct free kick, while Marsh’s similar effort at the other end was blocked as both teams took some time to find their feet.
The opener came just before the 30-minute mark.
A cross from Joe Payne was not well cleared by Chorley centre back, Mark Ellis, and the ball landed kindly for Josh Castiglione who smuggled in a strike at the near post to give Bedford the lead.
Another free kick from Blakeman was awkwardly diverted wide by Ashmore in the closing stages, bringing and end to a meek first half, but with Bedford Town a key goal up.
Mensah seals the deal
The second half followed much of the same patterns, with clear cut chances at a premium.
Moments after Chorley had a handball shout waved away, another Blakeman free kick was sent on its way, and looked to be finding the top corner only for Ashmore to expertly tip it over in what was a rare moment of quality.
The stop would become a vital one, as Bedford Town extended their lead after 70 minutes.
A long throw from Payne found Mensah, whose stab goalwards was blocked, but he was afforded a second bite of the cherry and he took it with aplomb, lashing home into the bottom corner.
It knocked the stuffing out of Chorley, who rarely threatened throughout the 90 minutes. Ashmore was forced into tipping an ambitious Jack Moore free kick wide, but any signs of a late comeback were non-existent as the Eagles coasted home to three points.
“It’s just three points”, said manager Lee Bircham.
“We got a reaction out of the boys. I think it was a really good, professional performance. Goals at good times helps obviously, and we were nursing a couple through as well, but we needed them on the pitch.
“Ashmore is my boy, and we needed him back. He suits me, and he suits us. He gives everyone a lift, and having a character and a leader behind you is great”, he added.
“We’ve got to embrace who were are as a football club. Getting anything in this league is difficult, but the lads will leave everything on the pitch”.
The win was made all the more important by the fact that only one other side in the bottom half of National League North won, as Alfreton mounted a stunning late comeback to shock Merthyr Town.
King’s Lynn, Oxford City, Hereford, Leamington and Bedford Town’s next opponents, Peterborough Sports all lost on what proved to be the perfect day for Lee Bircham and his men in what has become a relegation scrap.
Bedford Town are back at The Eyrie on Tuesday, 24 February, looking to avenge defeat against Phil Brown’s Peterborough Sports and drag themselves further away from the drop zone.
