Saturday marked the last game of the Eagles’ pre-season as Watford’s Under 21 team travelled to the Eyrie.
Watford started bright, playing some pretty football but all in their own half. This allowed Trialist A to swoop in with a great shot that goes just wide in the 4th minute.
The Eagles’ continued to look positive every time they got on the ball, with Walsh and Morgan-Griffiths, in particular, showing their talents all across the pitch.
Connolly – who has been on a scoring streak recently – took a brilliant trick free kick in the 12th minute, which was shot in by one of his teammates but quickly disallowed.
The Eagles didn’t allow this to knock their confidence, as Watkins took a low free kick in the 16th minute which was flicked in by J. Green, putting Bedford in the lead.
The 23rd minute saw Trialist A demonstrating some nice skills to beat a couple of players. Then only a minute later, Morgan-Griffiths sneaked in to pinch the ball from the keeper – however, Walsh shot over.
The Eagles’ defence broke a little in the 26th minute as Watford shot over after a bit of calamity in Bedford’s back line.
A free kick for Bedford is won in the 36th minute due to lovely football from the Eagles’ as a whole, allowing Connolly to use his wand of a left foot in a free kick that hits the post.
McDonald made a brave save in the 43rd minute, however, the rebound is turned in and the score is drawn level at halftime.
The second half opened with Watford scoring to put them ahead.
Lee Bircham made a couple of changes minutes later as Trialist A is brought off for Spaul and Trialist B is swapped with Dahie.
In the 57th minute, a well-worked move from out right gave Watkins the ball, which just missed the target.
A hectic few minutes ensue as Blake is inches from the end of a ball after J.Green put in a lovely pass. A well-worked corner followed, which looked straight off the training ground, nearly resulting in a goal.
The Eagles’ efforts in the second half paid off in the 63rd minute when Walster took a free kick which went under the wall to bring the score up to 2-2.
Another substitution was made as J. Green – playing really well in his third position this pre-season – was taken off for Donnolly.
Watford’s keeper went down in the 69th minute, forcing them to make a substitution.
The Eagles displayed skill in the 73rd minute as a lovely move down the left showed nice link-up play between Connolly, Morgan-Griffiths and Walsh – who have all been outstanding in pre-season.
Watford pushed themselves back into the lead in the 77th minute and Watkins – who has been filling in as Captain recently – was swapped with Summerfield.
Blake made a beautiful solo run, beating a couple of men and firing in a goal in the 79th minute to pull the Eagles back up again.
Trialist C replaced Seabrook in the 84th minute and it was very well-played by Summerfield who won the ball from Watford with a few minutes to go, as Bedford looked strong and clearly pushing for a win.
That push comes to fruition in the 86th minute as Connolly extends his scoring streak with a corner that went straight in.
The full-time whistle brings to an end a very successful pre-season for the Eagles and a 4-3 scoreline.
After such a positive few games, Bedford should be going into the season on a high, with hopes of a very triumphant year ahead of them.
