Bedford Town fell 2-0 to play-off chasing Rushall Olympic at The Eyrie in a combative and fiery affair on Saturday afternoon to leave the Eagles eight points from safety in Southern League Premier Central.
The ninety minutes were heated, with both teams finishing the game with ten men, but most importantly, it was the fifth placed side who took home the spoils.
On a very heavy pitch at The Eyrie, you could not fault the effort of Graeme Tomlinson’s side but a lack of cutting edge up front and some key flashpoints left Bedford Town with another loss and needing a great escape to save their Premier Central status.
A couple of early chances for the opponents from the Midlands seemed ominous for Bedford Town but Reece Mitchell sliced wide inside the first minute and a further ambitious overhead kick went over.
However, both sides found the going difficult on a boggy pitch and were left with the long ball option in what was an attritional first half.
Rushall Olympic opened the scoring after 26 minutes in scrappy fashion as centre back Alex Moore scrambled home at the near post. It was moments after however, where the game’s controversy began.
Keeble red card ignites game
Despite the goal, it was only until the thirty minute mark where the game came to life, with Jack Keeble perhaps a touch unlucky to receive his marching orders after a lunging tackle in midfield.
The conditions played a part, as Keeble slipped into a challenge – in which he won the ball – but the two-footed follow through didn’t help as the referee decided to flash his red card.
The Eagles bench was incensed – Graeme Tomlinson was cautioned for his remonstrations – but the fact remained that Bedford Town needed to find a way back with ten men.
They found their way to half-time with a one goal deficit, but the second half was far better for the hosts, although they were unable to forge any guilt-edged chances – they only had one shot on target all match.
This was helped by another red card, this time for the away side and with far less controversy as Alex Cameron was sent off for what can only be described as a flush right hook to the face of Sam Dreyer in the middle of a melee.
At ten-a-side, Bedford Town came into the ascendency but despite enjoying a lot more of the ball in the closing half an hour, they couldn’t fashion any real openings despite substitutes, Carlos Lyon and Rene Howe doing their best to disrupt the Rushall defence.
With Bedford players piling forward, a second Rushall goal sealed the game in the dying moments as Kieran Cook slotted home in injury time to seal a 2-0 away win.
Miracle needed
There seems to be an air of defeat around The Eyrie, despite Callum Donnelly’s assurances that the team will not give up in their pursuit of what will now be a huge effort to retain their seventh tier status.
With Stratford Town beating Alvechurch in the relegation fight, Bedford Town are eight points from safety ahead of what is a must win game at Alvechurch next Saturday.
The trip to Worcestershire is one of seven remaining games this season, and despite one of those being against bottom side Rushden and Diamonds, there are tough tests against Nuneaton, Mickleover and Redditch as well.
What isn’t at doubt though is the effort from Bedford Town, who spent ninety minutes working hard in tough conditions. If they pull this off, it will go down as one of the Eagles’ greatest of escapes.
