Bedford Town’s battle with the elements in National League North continued on Saturday, as they played out a second consecutive 2-2 draw in the league, this time against visitors from Greater Manchester in Curzon Ashton.
The Eagles may still find themselves in the sixth tier relegation zone, but their efforts this season have not gone unnoticed, at least by the travelling Ashton fans, who were weary of their opponents, and especially of one in-form striker.
Tyrone Marsh would once again be in the thick of the action, but pre-match conversation was dominated by a decision made at the other end of the pitch, as Lee Bircham dropped his goalkeeper, Dan Wilks in favour of newcomer, Caleb Ansen.
Wilks made a late mistake in the midweek draw at Hereford, in which Bedford Town squandered a two goal lead to draw 2-2 and seemingly paid the price for it by taking up a position on the substitute’s bench.
Read: Bedford Town squander two goal lead to draw at Hereford
It didn’t take long for Bedford Town’s new number one to be called into action.
Crispin McLean’s second minute free kick was floated into the area, and met by Curzon captain, Jimmy Spencer whose glancing header looked destined for the top corner only to be tipped over by a flying Ansen.
Early chances were also aplenty for the Eagles; a shot from Harry Hawkins flew just wide, before the ever-present Ellis Brown curled an effort narrowly past the post, while an overhead kick from man of the moment, Marsh followed suit.
However, despite his earlier nerve-settling heroics, Ansen would not want to see a replay of the goal that gave Curzon Ashton a 14th-minute lead.
A weak effort from the corner of the area by Spencer was met with ease by Ansen, but he was only able to palm it back into the centre of the area where the onrushing Alex Curran was on hand to slot it into an empty net.
Eighth goal of the season for Marsh
For the rest of the half, Bedford Town dominated possession and the shots on goal; Greg Taylor had an effort from distance blocked wide, before the resulting corner flew all the way to Junior Gyamfi at the back post whose volley could only find another pink shirt.
Curzon’s only ventures forward at this point came via an impressive McLean, but the goalmouth action was exclusively at the other end, and Bedford Town’s persistence paid off with an equaliser on the stroke of half time.
Moments after Hawkins in the Curzon goal had acrobatically tipped over an Ellis Brown effort, the deserved equaliser came from a familiar face.
Josh Dawodu beat Chibuike Ezennolim on the left flank and played the perfect square ball into the path of Marsh who was not going to miss from six yards out, scoring his eighth league goal of the season.
Marsh was in the action again in the early moments of the second half; a penalty shout against him seemed warranted given the striker emerged with a torn shirt, but before the crowd could complain too much, guilt-edged chances for both teams appeared.
Brad Holmes was played through on goal against Anson, who made amends for his earlier error and stood tall to deny him in what was a good second half effort from the Eagles goalkeeper, before an equally glorious chance at the other end.
Ryan Blake broke down the right wing, and played in Marsh who deceived everyone in letting the ball run by him on to a marauding Gyamfi whose first time shot was skewed well wide.
Eagles concede lead again
Ansen was again called into action in saving with his feet, again to deny Holmes, in a pulsating second half before Bedford Town gained a well-earned lead on the hour mark.
Blake was once again the architect, but his cross was met with fresh air from Lewis Coyle although his miskick fell invitingly to the feet of Ellis Brown who composed himself to smash into the roof of the net.
It was the least Bedford Town deserved; they had dominated a lot of the ball and were on the front foot for the majority of the first two-thirds of the game, against an Ashton side who were dropping deeper and deeper.
However, they were once again unable to hold on to their lead.
The introduction of Tony Weston for the visitors created new problems for the Eagles defence, and it was the substitute who scored the equaliser.
Holmes was once again central as his shot was half blocked by a blue arm, but while the attackers were appealing for a penalty, the ball dribbled through to Weston to stroke home.
From there, chances were few and far between except for a late scare in which Ben Isaacson and Lewis Green messed up a headed clearance between them, only to see the ball drop out of the sky for Spencer whose tame volley was straight at Ansen.
Otherwise, Bedford Town had to settle for another point; their third draw from eight league games that has only seen one victory against fellow promoted side, AFC Telford.
League action takes a back seat for now, as Bedford Town enter the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage this coming Saturday (13 September).
They are back at The Eyrie to fly the FA Cup flag for the Borough’s clubs, as they host National League South side, Dagenham and Redbridge with the game kicking off at 3pm.
