Leon Lobjoit’s 92nd-minute penalty secured a 1-0 win for Bedford Town at home to Alvechurch on Saturday, as the Eagles began the month of March exactly how they finished February with three more points at the top of the league.
In an otherwise scrappy game with few chances to speak of, Lee Bircham’s side were given a lifeline when Krystian Pearce brought down Lewis Green in the penalty area in injury time, with Lobjoit stroking home his 21st league goal of the season to win it.
It’s now five victories in six games for Bedford Town who continue to defy the odds at the top of Southern League Premier Central.
For all money, the game looked to be drifting towards a dour 0-0 stalemate; chances for either side were few and far between with the game’s main talking points mainly ending in yellow cards.
One of those came after ninety seconds as Dan Sweeney’s elbow on Harlain Mbayo in the air was only enough for a caution from the referee, before Bedford Town opened up a couple of half chances at the other end.
Both of them fell to Bruno Andrade, who skewed two efforts wide of Ronnie Hollingshead’s far post in the Alvechurch goal, with the keeper getting a touch to the latter in a bright start for the home side.
Alvechurch’s best chance fell after twenty minutes as Dylan Allen-Hadley’s snap shot in the area was kept out by Jameson Horlick in the Bedford goal and although the rebound was tapped in by Krystian Pearce, he was adjudged to be offside.
The visitors’ manager, former Blackburn goalkeeper, Tim Flowers was next in the book for his remonstrations on the touchline but it was his men who finished the first half better.
Allen-Hadley had another excellent opportunity with a free header from twelve yards out that flew over before Sweeney and Finnley Howell saw efforts sail straight at Horlick.
Late drama
Goalmouth action became even more of a rarity in the second half as both sides failed to find a cutting edge to open up any big opportunities.
Sweeney smashed a shot into the side netting from a tight angle in the early throws, while a weak effort from Lobjoit floated over.
Another clash came on the hour mark as the usually dependable, Hollingshead came rushing out of his goal to upend Ryan Blake.
With both men left injured on the floor, and the ball heading off towards the corner flag, the Alvechurch shot stopper also got away with a yellow card, but nothing came from the resulting free kick as both sides battled out the last half hour in midfield.
That was until Lewis Green found himself on the ball, six yards out with just seven stoppage-time minutes remaining.
With his back to goal, the Bedford defender put his leg between the ball and the amber shirt of Pearce, and the contact was enough to warrant a penalty with Lobjoit making no mistake in sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to win the game.
Tensions on the away bench also spilled over as goalkeeping coach, Neil Reeves was shown a straight red card for his complaints, while manager Tim Flowers was left seething at losing it late.
For Bircham however, the campaign he described as a “freak season” continues, with Bedford Town now three points clear of second-placed, Telford who fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at St Ives, while Kettering are two points further back.
Kettering Town have three games in hand over the Eagles, while Telford have just one, but with points on the board and arguably the least of the pressure, Bedford Town remain in the driving seat with just eight league games to go.
They also have some time to recover as they have a free week next week, with their next league fixture at Redditch United on 15 March followed by play-off chasing, Stamford back at The Eyrie the following weekend.
