Tyrone Marsh’s 14th and 15th league goals of the season helped Bedford Town to a 3-0 victory over Buxton in National League North on Tuesday night (11 November) as the Eagles resumed winning ways at The Eyrie.
Left back, Sam Brown scored his first ever goal for the club to help Lee Bircham’s men on their way in the second half before Marsh struck to take the game away from the Derbyshire side in what was an excellent second half showing from Bedford.
Bedford Town were boosted by the almost immediate return of goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore from Boreham Wood, announcing he will remain on loan for the remainder of the season. With it, came the return of the clean sheet, Ashmore’s fourth in five Bedford games.
His return was one of five changes to the starting line up, as Bircham – who was critical of “individuals” following Saturday’s 4-3 loss against Merthyr Town – rung the changes, and he was duly rewarded.
Read: Eagles fall on the wrong side of seven goal Merthyr thriller
In truth, Ashmore was rarely tested throughout the 90 minutes in what were wet and blustery conditions at The Eyrie, where three second half strikes for Bedford Town were more than enough to see off a toothless visiting Buxton.
Buxton are one of the good news stories from the FA Cup, reaching the second round proper where they will travel to League Two side, Cheltenham Town in December, but they proved to be disappointing on Tuesday in front of an increasingly vocal Eyrie support.
Dour first period
After 45 minutes, the game looked to be heading one way, with only one shot on target for either side.
The only real talking point came within the first thirty seconds, as George Ward followed through with a tackle on Junior Gyamfi, only receiving a yellow card despite an irate Lee Bircham on the touchline demanding a red.
Other than that, goalmouth action was rare. Buxton, with the wind behind them, had a lot of the ball but didn’t create anything substantial, with the only shot in the first 40 minutes of the game flying well wide from the boot of Connor Kirby.
Gyamfi soon followed suit, and despite a chance towards the end of the first period in which the combative Sammy Robinson completely missed a decent cross from Tai Sodje, there was no other goalmouth action with the game deadlocked at 0-0 at the break.
Marshy again Olé Olé
With the wind at their backs and a new lease of life, Bedford Town came out for the second half on the front foot and within three minutes, found themselves in front.
Josh Phillips, so often involved in any attack, fed Greg Sandiford in the right channel who proceeded to whip in a delicious cross on to the forehead of left back, Sam Brown who powered a header home to give Bedford the lead.
Marsh, who up until the hour mark had experienced a frustrating evening, then expertly brought down a long ball before firing straight at Joe Young in the Buxton goal, before Johnny Johnston’s stinging shot across the face of the opposite goal tested Ashmore for the only time.
Buxton continued to dominate possession, but without any end substance to supplement it, they were sitting ducks. The hammer blow was dealt after 77 minutes, and it was that man Marsh who would deal it.
Buxton centre back, Ward was dispossessed in a dangerous area by Greg Taylor, who instantly played in Marsh and it wasn’t long before the familiar bulge of the ball hitting the back of the net sent the vocal Bedford fans behind the goal into delirium.
It would knock the last of what confidence Buxton possessed; a weak effort from distance by Tate Campbell epitomising a feeble night for the Bucks, before Marsh sealed the three points late on.
Phillips gained a deserved assist, adding to an already impressive tally of goal contributions this season, with the inch perfect cross that found the head of Marsh who glanced home into the bottom corner past a helpless Young.
It capped a fine second half performance from Lee Bircham’s men, who are back on the winning trail and up to 14th in National League North after their sixth league win of the campaign. Buxton remain 11th.
Up next is another home game, but a return to cup action as Bedford Town go from underdogs to favourites in the second round of the FA Trophy, welcoming Northern Premier League Midlands side, Anstey Nomads on Saturday (15 November).
