Lewis Hilliard’s second half double helped Bedford Town to a 2-0 away win against play-off chasing, Leiston in Suffolk on Saturday as Lee Bircham’s men once again resumed the top spot in Southern League Premier Central.
There are now just five games to go in this devilishly close seventh tier title battle, and Bedford Town – who were newly promoted into this division last season – are two points clear at the top ahead of Telford and Halesowen Town.
The reverse of this fixture back at the end of September was the start of an extraordinary run in this division which see Bedford Town with a chance of claiming the most unlikely of league titles.
That game ended 4-3 with a 96th minute winner for the Eagles in a contest that also had two red cards, and this clash also had moments of fire in it, but was ultimately decided by two goals from Bedford’s reliable central midfielder.
Read: Dramatic 96th minute winner as Bedford Town win seven goal Leiston thriller
The best of the early moments fell for Bedford’s Eddie Panter, who was tackled by his namesake, Eddie Jackson when through on goal after just four minutes before headers for George Quantrell and Rossi Jarvis went astray for the home side.
That clash between Panter and Jackson, which would have spelt trouble for the latter had he got it wrong, were the beginnings of a duel that the pair would contest all afternoon, with both receiving yellow cards in the first half.
Panter could well have received a second yellow in the closing stages of the first half as he and Jackson had another coming together, but the referee was not swayed by the melee of blue shirts surrounding him as both teams went into the break deadlocked.
Hilliard the difference
New Bedford Town goalkeeper, Jonathan Macauley – on loan from Watford after Luton Town recalled Jameson Horlick – had a couple of heart-in-mouth moments at the end of the first half, but was called into action early in the second as he kept out Ben Fowkes.
The game changing moment came on the hour mark, thanks to a moment of magic from Lewis Hilliard.
Billy Johnson punched clear a cross, but only as far as Hilliard on the left side of the penalty area and he proceeded to chip a beautiful effort into the opposite corner to spark wild celebrations in the away dugout.
It wasn’t long before Hilliard has his second, and the clincher for Town, as he once again collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a low effort past Johnson to make it 2-0.
Khanya Leshabela almost made it three late on; his effort was kept out but it mattered not as Bedford Town picked up their 21st league victory of the season, taking them to 69 points in this remarkable campaign.
The Eagles are back at The Eyrie next Saturday (5 April) as they host another side chasing a play-off spot in Harborough Town, who drew with Halesowen today, before a final four league games that could cap the most madcap of seasons.
