An early penalty for National League North’s leading goalscorer, Tyrone Marsh was not enough for Bedford Town as they eventually succumbed 2-1 to the division’s early pace setters, South Shields at a warm Eyrie on Bank Holiday Monday.
It means two defeats in 48 hours for Lee Bircham’s side who are 19th after five games of the new season with one win, one draw and three losses, although they have competed in every single game since their shock promotion last campaign.
South Shields, who brought an impressive away following from the north east, came into this encounter with a 100% record of four wins out of four, having scored nine goals and conceding none.
Bedford Town manager, Lee Bircham labelled them as “obvious favourites” for the league title this season, but they were soon under pressure as the Eagles started well.
Ellis Brown caused some early problems from the left wing as his swift cross evaded an onrushing Tyrone Marsh, although it wouldn’t be long until the the Eagles number ten was in the thick of it again.
A second attack – this time spearheaded by Lewis Coyle – caused more problems for the visitors and the ball eventually found its way through to Ryan Blake who was duly brought down by the Shields goalkeeper, Jasper Sheik and the referee pointed to the spot.
With just nine minutes on the Eyrie clock, the in-form man of the moment, Marsh made no mistake in smashing it down the middle.
The majority of the half was played out in a combative midfield; South Shields’ Martin Smith especially throwing himself into challenges, while chances were few and far between on the 3G turf at The Eyrie.
One of just a few touches of the ball for Dan Wilks in the Bedford goal came courtesy of a cross from visiting captain, Rob Briggs but the talking points of a first half devoid of opportunity came in the final five minutes.
Bedford Town thought they had earned a second penalty, only for the referee to book an aghast Tyrone Marsh for diving, and within a few minutes, South Shields had rubbed salt into the wounds by equalising.
Briggs played in Dan Savage down the left channel who proceeded to square in inch perfect cross into the path of Cedwyn Scott who slotted home into an empty net to restore parity.
There was still time for Savage to truly test Wilks at his near post before the half-time whistle, which came at a good time for Bedford Town to regroup at one goal apiece.
Shields prove their favourites tag
While Bedford Town went toe-to-toe with one of the division’s better sides in the first half, the Mariners came out in the second half immediately on the front foot, and it didn’t take long for them to take the lead.
Sustained pressure from successive corners paid dividends, as a cross drifted to the back post and found Savage who laid it on a plate for Will Jenkins to slot confidently into the bottom corner to give the visitors a lead they would never surrender.
While full-timers, South Shields could not fashion many chances in the first half, the same could be said for Bedford Town in the second as they grew increasingly frustrated.
A cross from Sam Brown on the hour mark made it through to Marsh, who seemed surprised that it got through a number of visiting shirts, before a second Brown cross found Blake at the back post, only for the Eagles captain to be smothered by Sheik.
Only Shaun Jeffers, with the last throw of the dice in the seventh minute of injury time, could claim to have a half chance for Bedford Town to equalise but his header went a distance over.
Before that point, the chances came at the other end and both for substitute, Paul Blackett, who first hit an effort from a tight angle straight at Wilks before a far better chance to put the game to bed also found the midriff of the Bedford Town goalkeeper.
The full-time whistle was greeted with cheers from the travelling contingent, who make the 230-mile trip back to Tyneside with smiles on their faces after continuing their perfect start to the new season.
They go on to host Buxton this coming Saturday (30 August), while the challenges for Lee Bircham and his men don’t get any easier, as they face a trip to third placed, AFC Fylde who were relegated from the National League last season.
