Northern Premier League Midlands side, Anstey Nomads shocked Bedford Town at The Eyrie in the second round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, as Oscar Tonge’s only goal was enough to win 1-0 and put the Nomads in the hat for Monday’s third round draw.
While Anstey Nomads are in a title challenge in Northern Premier League Midlands, that division is at step four of the non-league pyramid, a full two steps below the Eagles, who must now turn focus back on their league campaign after an abject showing in the Trophy.
Anstey Nomads are a good cup side, reaching the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in 2022/23, before succumbing to National League club, Chesterfield but they had never reached this stage of the FA Trophy before their visit to The Eyrie.
Urged on by a small but vocal travelling support, Anstey were quick out of the blocks and caused Bedford some early problems, mainly down a right flank that they peppered for most of the game.
Tobias Liversidge’s early effort set the tone, before Liam Murphy broke clear down the right wing to cut back a dangerous ball, only to narrowly evade the eventual match winner in Tonge, as the Nomads started the better.
Already, Bedford Town manager Lee Bircham was barking instructions from the sidelines, as he tried to urge his Eagles awake from their early game slumber, only for Anstey to keep coming back at them.
Another dangerous ball – this time from the left – from Courey Grantham looked equally as threatening, but again there was no red shirt on the end of it as the finished product was left a lot to be desired in a first half of few big chances.
Panter with Bedford efforts
A feeble header from Ryan Doherty and a harmless shot from Gyamfi were the only efforts Bedford had on goal in a frustrating opening twenty minutes, but they did slowly work their way back into the encounter as the first half progressed.
Eddie Panter had a decent strike deflected over the crossbar, before the usually prolific Tyrone Marsh bent an effort past the far post, but the first period’s best chance came for Tonge at the other end.
Again, Kyle Tomlin broke clear down the right and again, he propelled a dangerous cross across the face of goal, reaching Tonge at the back post who blazed well over the bar.
Bedford Town ended the half well with two chances for Panter, but both were kept out by Nunez in the Anstey goal; the second of which was part of an excellent double save, with the keeper expertly keeping out a Shaun Jeffers rebound.
In truth, it was the only time the Anstey goalkeeper was made to work in a poor offensive display from Bedford Town.
Tonge sucker punch
A mere thirty seconds into the second half, the visitors were deservedly ahead.
Almost straight from the kick off, a low cross from Tendai Chitiza – who had only just come on as a substitute – found Oscar Tonge at the back post, whose effort found the bottom corner, squirming through the hands of Nathan Ashmore.
The much-loved Bedford goalkeeper will feel he should have done better, but his error was compounded only by an equally poor second half performance from the men in front of him, as the Eagles rarely threatened an equaliser.
Free kicks from distance by Josh Phillips and Marsh flew aimlessly wide, as the clash became increasingly niggly.
Attacking options from the bench were also scarce; Bircham brought on Josh Dawodu for the disappointing Jeffers, asking him to play in a much more advanced position than he is used to, before bringing on centre back, Cole Kpekawa for Panter late on.
If any side were to score the next goal, it was Anstey; and they had chances to seal it on the break late on, most notably for Josh Burniston who skewed a wonderful opportunity millimetres past the post with just five minutes remaining.
It was not to matter, as Anstey Nomads celebrated reaching the third round of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history with their travelling fans from Leicestershire, leaving Bedford Town to try and forget what was a disappointing day at the office.
There were also shock losses for fellow National League North sides, as Merthyr Town, Chester, Scarborough, Darlington and Kings Lynn all lost to lower league opposition.
The Eagles are back on the road in National League North next Saturday (22 November), as they travel to Chorley who sit one place above them in the league, before a shorter trip to struggling Peterborough Sports three days later.
The Eagles return to home turf on Saturday 29 November, as they welcome Darlington to The Eyrie.
