Home to Bedford

Match Report > Click Here

I was delighted with our start against Bedford. I said to the players beforehand that Bedford had suffered a heavy defeat on Saturday, and as such their confidence would be low. So to go a goal up after two minutes enabled us to exploit that and also boss the opening passage of play.

We should have gone two up from the penalty, but as we know Neil missed it. That’s just one of those things, but I was more disappointed with their goalkeeper as he was at least four yards off his line when the kick was taken. The linesman was well placed and should have noticed it and ordered it to be re-taken, but it wasn’t to be.

From that moment on we allowed them to come back at us, and despite the fact that they do leak goals they do have a bit of quality in their team. Leading up to their equaliser I thought they were knocking on the door, but couldn’t really see them opening us up. So I was disappointed with their goal mainly because the space we allowed them. Pat Bexfield was left exposed, but defensively we should have dealt with it earlier.

There’s not a lot you can really say about our second goal on the stroke of half time. It’s one of those that happen. Fans will remember that Zac Barrett had something similar against Leamington earlier in the season. The incident on Monday saw the ball bobble before their keeper kicked it, and if it had happened to us I would have been disappointed. Although it was a strange way to take the lead, it happened at an ideal time for us and we went into the break with our tails up.

I told the lads at half time that the second goal would be seen as a massive blow for Bedford and we should really go out and boss the half and go on and create chances. Obviously the pick of the goals came from Ash Fuller. It was a fantastic strike, and proves that on his day if he plays with the energy we expect from him, he is a great player for us and has the ability to open up many defences in this league.

At 4-1 it was game over, but credit to Bedford they kept going and their second goal from the free kick was a great strike.

Looking back at the last two games before Monday and the game on Saturday at Rugby was a satisfactory win for us. It’s no exaggeration to say that we could have had five before half time. As such we went into the break 3 up and we took our foot off the gas a little in the second period that didn’t make it as big a spectacle as the first half. But it’s all about points in the bag at this stage of the season, and we have now won 3 out of 3 and the confidence is high going into the game at Nuneaton.

The game at VT FC on Thursday was disappointing. I feel for the fans that made the long trip down there as the performance just wasn’t good enough. I’ve told the players that, and they are fully aware that we have an opportunity to put it right next Monday in the second leg. Take nothing away from VT though, they are a good side and do have quality players who have played at a higher level and are a good outfit in their division, but we need to be professional on Monday and hopefully get the right result.

In terms of injuries, Steve Gentle is the only one who is carrying a knock. He has an ankle injury, and we are trying to nurse him through the remainder of the season. Ramon Calliste has left the club by mutual consent.