An 85th-minute winner from Telford’s Matthew Stenson propelled them up to second in Southern League Premier Central as Lee Bircham’s Bedford Town fell to back-to-back defeats on Saturday (11 January).
Bedford Town had led as late as the 76th minute but were pegged back before Stenson’s late strike left Bedford Town with nothing for the second successive week, although the Eagles remain fourth.
Just last weekend, Bedford Town were subjected to their first defeat since November, shipping five at home to a Spalding side who are rocketing up the league table.
Telford fared no better away against Stratford as they flailed their way to a 4-0 defeat in the West Midlands, putting their promotion credentials up for debate.
As soon as the curtain had been raised on this game, Kevin Wilkin’s Telford side began to showcase their technical ability and intricate passing flow, demonstrating why they sit as high as they do in the league table.
In the face of Telford’s stylistic modernity, Lee Bircham unwaveringly stood by his own set of tactical ideals.
As they have done from day dot this season, the Eagles played long, lofted through balls over their opponents backline, looking to isolate their defenders with Blake, Lobjoit and Panter.
Despite laying claim to a very small percentage of the possession in the first half, Bedford posed a far greater threat than the Bucks, with the dogged persistence of Panter earning them chances and free-kicks in threatening areas.
The ariel presence of Telford centre-half, Orrin Pendley, deterred the Eagles from playing through the middle, meaning a goal for Bedford would most likely be sourced from either one of the wings.
Eagles’ usual protagonists not enough
After just 18 minutes, one such goal was sourced by the ever-reliable Eagles captain, Ryan Blake.
Following a careless pass inside his own box from Bucks defender Jordan Piggott, Ryan Blake picked out the far corner exquisitely from twenty yards, providing Bedford with an indispensable home lead.
Bircham’s side managed to reach half-time without retort, weathering a few mild and infrequent Telford attacks in the 27 minutes after their opener.
Harrison was yet to face a strike of real substance – a good effort as Telford were the league’s third-highest scorers prior to kick-off.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, Telford’s timid first-half energy had been extinguished by whatever Wilkin said during the break. In the first five minutes of the second forty-five, Telford showed more attacking guile than they had in the entirety of the first.
In those five minutes, they managed to restore parity through Ricardo Dinanga. The Bucks winger picked the ball up on the edge of the area, skipped by Carl Mensah, and finished with a dink that rose agonisingly over the clutches of Adam Harrison.
However, Bedford’s introduction of the returning Sam Brown just 10 minutes later swung the pendulum back in their favour.
As it has done against Bishop’s Stortford, Leiston and Sudbury already this season, Sam Brown’s long throw-in provided the Eagles with a goal that restored their advantage.
This time, Leon Lobjoit got on the end of Brown’s missile-like launch of the ball, volleying past Brandon Hall following a Lewis Green flick-on.
Telford super sub
It felt like a goal of great magnitude for the Eagles, but a super sub for the visitors by the name of Matthew Stenson was yet to leave his mark the proceedings.
Named as a substitute for this game due to injury, Stenson has been a key player for Telford this season, and his devastating 25-minute cameo at the Eyrie this weekend showed why.
With his number nine, Reece Styche, dropping in and dictating play from a deeper role, Wilkin was able to bring Stenson on in a freer role off the right-hand side.
Bedford’s frail lead lasted just 12 minutes, and the combination of Styche and Stenson is what unpicked their typically resolute backline.
A looping flick from Styche towards the right flank invited a volleyed effort from Stenson which fizzed past a helpless Harrison to invigorate the away end.
The coup de grâce came just five minutes from time for Telford, and it was Stenson who would provide the killer blow.
A corner from the right flank marked the building pressure on the Bedford goal, and instead of being headed clear by Mensah like the rest had been, the ball evaded Bedford’s number five and was bulleted home by Stenson at the back post.
Without a substantial amount of time to reply, Bedford were forced to swallow their pill of defeat, a second in as many games following a string of victories
Next is an away trip to St. Ives on Saturday 18 January, a side who they have already suffered a 3-0 home defeat to this season.
