Bedford Town are now eleven points from safety after suffering their ninth league loss in a row on Tuesday night at home to high-flying Nuneaton Borough.
In a game that had been rearranged twice, Bedford Town were once again valiant in their efforts but goals from Ricardo Dinanga and a second half penalty for Ryan Beswick were enough for the Midlands side.
Good Friday’s game at home to Redditch United is now must-win although with eleven points to make up and just fifteen more available, the ‘must-win’ tag now applies to every game remaining.
“Mistakes cost us”
It’s true that Bedford Town haven’t played terribly in these past couple of months, for the fight has been on show but a lack of goals and mistakes at the other end have proven to be a deadly recipe.
Speaking after the 2-0 loss to Nuneaton last night, interim manager, Graeme Tomlinson was complimentary of his side’s efforts but lamented the game-costing errors.
“We’ve been training well, I’ve been impressed with our efforts but you can’t qualify the mistakes.
“You can’t qualify for a ball rolling under a foot or a penalty and ultimately that’s cost us. Two mistakes tonight, two mistakes at Alvechurch and two mistakes against Rushall and we’ve come away with nothing.”
While Bedford Town’s character cannot be faulted, they have lacked the quality touch that makes sides like Nuneaton Borough stand out.
“They’re coached well, they’re solid at the back and they have a good counter attack”, said Tomlinson, who was highly complimentary of Tuesday night’s opponents but it’s qualities such as these that have seen Borough all but nail a play-off spot.
Ricardo Dinanga opened the scoring after fifteen minutes at The Eyrie after he was the first to react to a rebound off Lewis Elsom’s legs in the Town goal.
Bedford could only muster a couple of half chances, via the head of Connor Tomlinson and then Sam Dreyer before Borough killed the game off on the hour mark.
Elsom brought down Jaanai Gordon and Ryan Beswick coolly slotted home to double the lead and Bedford Town never looked like closing the gap.
Five games remain for Bedford Town to pull off the unlikely, beginning with Redditch United at The Eyrie on Good Friday before travelling to already relegated Rushden and Diamonds on Monday.
All at The Eyrie will be hoping Bedford Town will still be alive come the short journey up the A6, but while the maths holds, the hope still remains.
