Times have been hard in the past month for Bedford Town, with league form dropping like a stone but they did score a welcome victory in the County FA’s flagship competition on Tuesday night at Arlesey Town.
The Eagles lost in the final of the Bedfordshire FA Senior Cup last season against Leighton Town and are one step away from another final after thrashing Arlesey 5-0.
Carlos Lyon opened the scoring for Bedford Town from the penalty spot after Charley Sanders was tripped in the area, with Sanders himself adding a second before the half hour mark.
Rene Howe added a third before half-time to kill the tie with a header at the far post before Sanders added his second of the game shortly after the break.
Lyon scored his second and Bedford’s fifth after an hour, allowing Graeme Tomlinson to ring the changes as the game petered out to a slow finish, but a clean sheet will give some confidence to a back line who have taken a battering in recent weeks.
Luton Town await in the semi-finals
More challenging games await than Arlesey Town of the Spartans South Midlands Premier for the Eagles but any victory can reignite a season and it is a timely reminder that Tomlinson’s side still have the quality to fight against relegation.
They go on to face Luton Town in the semi-finals on 7th March, although the second tier side play their development squad in this competition, with the winner facing Biggleswade FC in the final after they thrashed Kempston Rovers 4-0.
Carlos Lyon looked especially dangerous up front on Tuesday night, and with Sanders and Howe finding their scoring boots in recent weeks, they will hope to pick up some points in a key March.
Bedford Town have however been hurt by the loss of key man Hugh Alban-Jones who moved to National League North side, Peterborough Sports in the week and may well miss his control in the middle of the park.
Focus now turns back to league action and while Bedford Town are not quite at panic stations, a 1-0 home loss to fellow strugglers Needham Market on Saturday has done little to ease concerns of the Eagles fanbase.
A solitary Luke Ingram goal was enough for Market to steal the spoils on Saturday to leave Bedford Town three points from safety.
March’s fixtures are also difficult reading for the Eagles, with playoff-chasing Coalville Town next up this Saturday before games against Nuneaton Borough and Rushall Olympic.
All three of those sides are in the top five, still chasing the playoffs and an outside spot in the automatic promotion places and will prove tough tests for a Bedford Town side desperate for points in the relegation zone.
