Bedford Town are up to second in the league after their third successive win in Southern League Premier Central capped a perfect week for all at The Eyrie, as goals from Ekow Coker, Edward Gyamfi and Ryan Blake secured a 3-1 win against AFC Sudbury.
The Eagles show no signs of stopping as their rampant run of home form continues after another front-foot display wielded all three points on another fruitful Eyrie afternoon.
A goal in the sixth minute from Tuesday’s hero, Ekow Coker set the tone for an assertive Bedford display, but they would have to wait another 65 minutes for a second which came courtesy of a glorious Gyamfi strike.
Late goals from Sudbury’s Joe Neal and Bedford’s Ryan Blake meant a 3-1 victory for Bircham’s men who now sit in second place in Southern League Premier Central.
It’s undeniable that there has been something in the air at the Eyrie since its refurbishment.
A 2-0 win last Saturday against strong opposition in Redditch United was followed up with a last-ditch 4-3 win over Leiston on Tuesday, despite being a man down for the majority of the second half.
Read: Dramatic 96th minute winner as Bedford Town win seven goal Leiston thriller
Momentum is a precious commodity at any level of football, and coming into this weekend, Bedford had bags of it.
Although a two all draw at home to high-flying Telford may seem like a good outcome on paper, for the Eagles’ opponents AFC Sudbury, it made for a demoralising result last time out as they had led up until a 90th minute equalising penalty.
With that in mind, a midweek 3-2 win in the Suffolk Premier Cup would have done them good before their 90-minute trip to the Eyrie this Saturday.
An early goal is becoming something of a trademark for Bedford this season, and this game was no different.
In almost identical fashion to Tuesday night’s stoppage-time winner, it was a rocket-like throw in from Sam Brown, met and finished by the head of Ekow Coker. Bradbrook in goal got a palm on the ball but it wasn’t enough to stop its powerful flight.
AFC Sudbury’s attempt at a response was unenthusiastic to say the least.
They persisted with their possession-based style throughout the course of the first half and seemed toothless in the final third. To recall a clear cut opportunity for the visitors in the opening forty-five would be a struggle.
Bedford’s slick counter-attacking prowess has been a feature of their overachievement so far this season, and this weekend they were at their formidable best on the break.
The closest they came after the goal was a shot from Gyamfi following some neat footwork, which was well saved by Bradbrook low to his left.
Unlike their placid first-half showing, AFC Sudbury re-emerged for the second half an enlivened eleven.
The first ten minutes of the last forty-five were defined by a myriad of missed chances for the away side, the worst of which saw Joe Neal roll a one-on-one chance agonisingly wide of Macdonald’s far post.
As desperation set in for Sudbury, gaps began to appear in their backline, one of which Edward Gyamfi exploited emphatically with nineteen minutes left of normal time.
He picked up the ball thirty yards out after it was sloppily given away by Isaacson and burst past Henshaw before ripping an effort into the top right corner in front of the Eagles’ faithful.
However, Bedford’s two goal cushion did not last for long, as just 10 minutes later following a rather brazen shove in the back from Kyle Connolly, Sudbury were awarded a penalty.
Joe Neal stepped up confidently and blasted the ball down the middle to reignite hopes of a late Sudbury revival.
No such revival would come.
New father Blake seals victory
Marc Abbott, the Sudbury boss, instructed his players to “take the handbrake off” in the last five minutes as they pushed for a leveller, but as players in pink bombed forward, a few in blue stealthily lurked on the halfway line waiting for a chance to hit on the counter.
Following a failed Sudbury advance, Sam Brown cleared the ball to Leon Lobjoit who played a first time pass in behind to Ryan Blake as Bedford looked to capitalise on Sudbury’s disjointed backline.
Blake sped through on goal to seal a third home win on the trot for the Bedford, poking the ball underneath Bradbrook.
With that, Bedford hearts returned from their mouths to their chest and Bircham’s men shoot up the table to second, even if it is only temporarily.
The Eagles now have a short hiatus from league action, as they will face fellow step three side Hendon at the Eyrie in the FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round next weekend, before travelling to league leaders, Stamford on 12 October.
