VICTORY FOR THE WADERS ON A FREEZING NIGHT IN BEDFORDSHIRE

 It was Step Three v Step Five in the  Bedfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Second Round yesterday evening as Biggleswade Town (9th in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division) welcomed Bedford FC (19th in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division) to Langford Road. The two clubs know each other well as The Waders ground-shared at Bedford's McMullen Park in 2006 when they left their old Fairfield Road ground awaiting their new ground to be completed.

EVEN THE GREEN ARMY BRAVED THE FROSTY CONDITIONS LAST NIGHT

This was one of the only games played locally on a freezing evening where a slight frost lay across the playing surface throughout the 90 minutes but 65 people still wrapped up warm and braved the conditions to see the game.

The Waders had a much changed starting XI from their last league outing at Paulton Rovers on Saturday with only two players remaining from that game which was a surprising 3-2 defeat after The Waders had been been on a five match winning run. They included brother's Ben (starting) and Sam Merson (on the bench) who are the son's of Arsenal legend Paul.

FROST ON THE PITCH

The game was won by half time as the home side were 4-0 with their first goal scored in the opening minute (I missed that on camera). Credit to Bedford though who never gave up, played some decent football in the second half and look to be improving from their poor early season form of late. A 2-1 league win over title contender's London Colney on Saturday 2nd January preceded by a 0-0 draw against another side from the top of the division in AFC Dunstable (on Monday 28th December) indicate they will do much better than the two wins they recorded in their opening twenty league games over the coming months.

Bedford are scheduled to be back in action on Thursday evening when they travel to Hoddesdon Town in the Dudley Lathom Memorial Cup (Premier Division Cup) before another away game at Sun Sports on Saturday in the league. The Waders host Hungerford Town on Saturday in the league before making the short trip to Top Field to take on local rival's Hitchin Town in the Red Insure Cup on Monday evening.

The Waders host another SSMFL Premier team (AFC Dunstable) in the Semi-Final of the Beds FA Senior Cup with the other being contested between Arlesey Town and Barton Rovers.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 
first goal not captured on camera