Lewis Green returned from a loan spell at Bromsgrove Sporting to help Bedford Town get one point closer to step two survival, as the Eagles drew 2-2 at play-off chasing AFC Telford United.
Green’s stunning second half equaliser came after Bedford took an early lead at the SEAH Stadium courtesy of Jevani Brown, only for Telford to hit back with strikes either side of the break from Jordan Piggott and Alex Fletcher, only for Green to level the scores.
The point is a welcome one on a day Bedford Town were missing a number of key men due to a mixture of suspensions and international call-ups, with the club once again dipping into the market to bring in last minute reinforcements.
Read: Bedford Town’s Sandiford and Gallimore earn international call-ups as Marsh faces four-match ban
23-year old midfielder, Jack Jenkins has joined on a one-month loan from Halifax Town and slotted straight into Saturday’s starting line up, while Twariq Yusuf also joined on a dual registration from Milton United and started on the bench.
However, it was another substitute in Green who would grab the headlines with an excellent equaliser to gain another much-needed point for Bedford.
Brown replaces Brown and puts the Eagles in front
Jevani Brown, who came into the starting line up to replaced the banned Ellis Brown, was the man to put the Eagles in front after just eight minutes.
Shortly after Dylan Allen-Hadley had planted a header over Nathan Ashmore’s crossbar, the ball went up the other end and found George Moncur on the byline, who cut it back for Jevani Brown to fire in the opener off the post.
It was just the start Bedford Town were looking for, but Telford looked dangerous in trying to respond as Remi Walker’s shot from the edge of the area struck the underside off the crossbar, before the Bedford shot stopper denied Jamie Meddows on two separate occasions.
The second of those was a remarkable save to claw it back from the goal line, but with Telford laying siege on the visitors’ goal, the equaliser felt inevitable and it came via Piggott.
It left the two sides deadlocked at a goal apiece heading into half-time, but it took just five minutes of the second half for Telford to take the lead, as captain Fletcher beat Ashmore from the edge of the area.
Chances went begging for Callum Ebanks in response, who was in from the start in the absence of talisman, Tyrone Marsh who was serving the first of a four match ban, but the equaliser did come eventually – and from an unlikely source.
Lewis Green muscled in front of Allen-Hadley from a Telford clearance to steal the ball, and the centre back galloped forward and let fly from 25 yards, firing it into the top corner to restore parity at 2-2, earning Bedford Town a key point in the context of the relegation battle.
What’s to come?
Bedford Town have dropped to 20th in National League North courtesy of Oxford City’s 3-2 win against Kidderminster on Saturday (28 March).
However, Lee Bircham’s side are now six points clear of the drop after Hereford, Alfreton and Peterborough Sports all lost below the Eagles; the latter to already relegated Leamington who are up next for Bedford Town.
That game is on Good Friday (3 April), before a trip to King’s Lynn on Easter Monday; a side who have managed to squeeze out of immediate danger in recent times, and sit in 17th, nine points above the relegation zone.
Bedford Town also host 21st-placed Hereford on Saturday, 11 April, who are currently six points behind but still have four games in hand, while Alfreton in 23rd have two games in hand.
With tricky games against title-chasing South Shields and Scarborough also in the mix, it’s going to be a testing and nervous last five games to see if Bedford Town can retain their National League status.
