BEDFORD DERBY IS SUPERB SEVEN GOAL THRILLER

The cold end witnessed a brilliant derby game today as two town rivals fought out a highly competitive and very entertaining seven goal thriller. Bedford Town Reserves hosted their near neighbours Bedford United in a Spartan South Midlands Division One game that was a great advert for non-league football as both teams played their part by passing the ball around from front to back with no long ball football anywhere to be seen.

Towards the 90 minutes mark it was end to end stuff in which the result could of gone either way. United will be very disappointed they didn't take anything from the game but can take heart that if they play as well as they did this afternoon they will definitely win more than they lose for the rest of the season.

McMullen Park and The Eyrie are so close you can see the other ground over the fence

The club's grounds of The Eyrie and McMullen Park are next door to each other on the outskirts of the town and both can be seen from each other making this (apart from team's who ground share) one the closest of local derby games going in the non-league game.

CLUB'S LEAGUE RECORDS PRIOR TO THE MATCH 
                       P   W   D  L  GF  GA  GD  PTS 
9. Bedford Town Res    21  11  1  9  48  41   7   34
11.Bedford United      19   8  3  8  41  39   2   27

Bedford Reserves were full of pace going forward with their number 10 (Manny??) showing some very skillful touches on the ball. The cold end sends apologies for not knowing their exact names but I couldn't lay my hands on a team-sheet at the ground.

United also attacked well with their number 9 (???) making it 0-1 after only five minutes with a nice finish inside the box.

You could tell it was going to an open game when Town made it 1-1 only a few minutes later when their number 10 (Manny??) showed his class by lobbing the keeper from the edge of the box.

On 20 minutes the visitors made it 1-2 when a good run into the box by their left back fed the ball into in front of the goal for their player to slip it under the home keeper.

HALF-TIME 1-2

United could of made it 1-3 just after the break when a ball was played into the box from right to left and with only the keeper to beat the United player put the ball just wide of the goal.


Above - "Manny" scores Town's first goal with a brilliant chipped effort


Above - United's second goal


Above - United's third goal
Town put on the pressure to get an equaliser and Manny scored another fantastic goal after playing a 1-2 with his team mate and stabbing the ball into the upper left hand corner of the net. The cold end was very disappointed not to capture this goal on camera as it was probably the best of the day.

Back came United and after a free-kick was put in from the right hand side of the box they made it 2-3 after the home side had opportunities to clear the ball.


Above - Penalty given.. Harsh or correct decision??
Town came back at their rivals and it was 3-3 from the penalty spot. The referee blew up after he saw a defender holding an attacker back in the box. On first glance everyone thought this was no way a penalty and on looking at the replay (look for the black and white number 3 holding the purple 8 to the right hand side of the picture)  it was one of those incidents which could of gone either way. Credit to the referee for taking the number 3 and the United captain aside and explaining why he had given the spot kick.




Above - Town's number 12 really did make a difference up front when he came off the bench.


Above - Number 12 scores Town's fourth and winning goal.
The game really could of gone either way from here as both teams went for the winner. It was the home side who came out on top when two of their subs combined to score their fourth goal and put them in front for the first and most important time of the match. A quick counter attack down the right wing and a cross into the box for Town's number 12 (again the cold end doesn't know his name but he was also very impressive when he came on and was full of running) to head in and run off celebrating his side's winner with his team mates.

FINAL SCORE -  BEDFORD TOWN RESERVES 4-3 BEDFORD UNITED

On only the third day of year the cold end thinks those present today witnessed one of the games of 2011 already. Fantastic value for the £4 entrance fee.