Bedford Town fell to a 3-0 defeat in Leiston yesterday evening, after a first-half red card for veteran, Craig Mackail-Smith left them with an uphill task in Suffolk.
The defeat ended a busy 72-hour period for the Eagles who were also on the verge of a loss at home to Ilkeston Town at the weekend, only for Charley Sanders to secure a late 2-2 draw on Saturday.
“The referee couldn’t get his red card out fast enough”
The visitors were already a goal down when the match-turning incident took place; Ben Fowkes completing a great team move for the hosts before Mackail-Smith was given his marching orders.
The circumstances surrounding the red card were obscure; Bedford’s Callum Donnelly and Leiston’s Rossi Jarvis both booked for squaring up to each other before a Bedford free kick.
Moments later, the red card was in the air and shown in the direction of the former Scotland striker, and with a Leiston man on the floor, many presumed it was for violent conduct.
Such is the nature of non-league football, there are no replays or cameras so the circumstances remain a mystery to all but those in the crowded penalty area.
Baffling or not, the fact remained that Gary Setchell’s men would play over half the game with ten men and the class of Leiston – who are now fifth – shone through in the second half.
Despite a couple of early second half chances for Town, Leiston doubled their lead shortly into the second half; Will Davies poking home from a corner to deflate the travelling contingent.
Seb Dunbar secured a 3-0 win with twenty minutes left on the clock, a margin that Bedford never looked like closing as they fall to 18th in Southern League Premier Central.
Last minute drama on Saturday
Yesterday’s defeat came after Charley Sanders managed to secure a dramatic point at The Eyrie on Saturday afternoon as they hosted Ilkeston Town.
Perhaps unlucky to find themselves 2-1 down, Sanders rose highest at the back post from debutant Kofi Halliday’s cross to gain a much-needed point for the Eagles.
Tyrone Lewthwaite’s fifth goal of the season had earlier given Bedford Town a 1-0 half time lead but second half goals from Chris O’Grady and Tom Solanke looked to have given the visitors the spoils.
Ilkeston had come off the back of a shock FA Cup defeat to Step Five side, Anstey Nomads who go on to face Shefford Town and Campton in the 3rd Qualifying Round this weekend.
They had looked like bouncing back in style before Sanders’ last-minute header spoiled the party for the side from Derbyshire.
The games keep coming for Bedford Town, as they host Stourbridge this Saturday; a side who are similarly placed towards the bottom of the league table.
Despite the FA Cup run coming to an end against Kings Lynn Town, the FA Trophy is soon to begin, with Bedford Town drawn against fellow Southern League Premier Central side, Alvechurch in the 3rd Qualifying Round.
