Two goals apiece for Leon Lobjoit and Ryan Blake helped Bedford Town to a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Halesowen Town to ignite their Southern League Premier Central season in the West Midlands.
In an encounter that was supposed to be played at The Eyrie, but reversed due to the ongoing ground works at the home of Bedford Town, Lee Bircham’s men controlled the game from start to finish and came out deserved winners.
A loss and a draw before today’s game left the Eagles in the bottom half of the table – despite it being very early days – but within 90 seconds, the writing was on the wall for an excellent afternoon’s work at The Grove.
Rob Hall’s early free kick found Lobjoit in the area and despite some question marks over whether the Eagles attacker handballed it in taking it down, he made no mistake with the finish, poking it past Dan Platt in the home goal.
Bosworth denies home side
Kieran Donnelly could have equalised within ten minutes only to hit his shot straight at Bosworth before McKauley Manning forced the Eagles shot stopper into another smart save soon after.
Further opportunities fell to the home side; Bosworth called into action again to deny Conor Tee before a thirty-yard effort from Ben Cassidy flew wide.
The home side would live to regret missing those chances, or indeed Bosworth’s efforts, as Bedford Town netted a second before half-time.
Halesowen could not properly clear a long throw, and Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo’s effort fell to the feet of Ryan Blake who was in the right place at the right time to give the visitors a two-goal advantage at the break.
Bedford Town looked comfortable in the lead, but when Adi Yussuf got a goal back for Halesowen, there would have been a few nervous faces on the Eagles’ bench.
Bircham continued to urge his men forward. In a similar situation in their promotion-winning season last year against North Leigh – then a title challenger – he did the same and it reaped rewards, and the manager’s offensive riposte was equally as effective here.
It took less than ten minutes for Bedford to restore their two-goal advantage, as Blake turned provider for Lobjoit to score via a home defender and a post.
When Blake raced clear on the counter to score the Eagles’ fourth – his second – the game was done and dusted, securing a convincing win for Bedford Town to kick start their seventh tier campaign with a victory that will install a heap of confidence into Lee Bircham’s men.
The win propels Bedford Town up to 8th in the league ahead of another trip away to Harborough Town next Saturday. They then face a tough game against Bishop’s Stortford on Easter Monday.
That fixture was due to be at home, but with the Eyrie not due to be ready until 21st September, there will need to be a neutral venue found, and this has not yet been confirmed.
