A resolute performance from the Eagles on Tuesday night ensured that they came back from the New Forest with a vital win.

The result also gives them a bit of breathing space in the battle against relegation, now four points above the drop zone.

Manager Lee Howarth was forced into two changes with Paul Draycott replacing the injured Eddie Lawley and returning midfielder Graham Clark slotting into midfielder in place of the suspended Callum Lewis.

The early exchanges favoured the home side, who were looking to consolidate their place in the top six, and this set the tone for the 90 minutes.

With five minutes on the clock, a killer cross from the right was snuffed out by the outstretched boot of Tom Hole before Justin Keeler was able to pounce.

Two more good chances were squandered by the hosts before the tenth minute. First, a low shot from Max Cream was saved by 'keeper Mike Armitt and then Keeler wasted a good chance, when he blasted the ball high and wide from a free-kick.

Bedford were then given some respite from the early onslaught with an attack of their own, when Jamie Cole cut inside from the left and forced goalkeeper David Elm into a good save.

After this it was backs to the wall again for Bedford.

Armitt denied another Cream shot and defender Charlie Knight saw his effort deflected for a corner.

Despite their dominance, Bashley were creating their own luck in front of goal, with the Bedford defence soaking the pressure up.

On 22 minutes, however, the home side nearly went in front when Knight's intended cross from the byline evaded Armitt and Paul Draycott headed away from under his own crossbar.

Bedford took the lead in the 27th minute, totally against the run of play. Another clearance up field was controlled by Junior McDougald before he squared it into the path of Craig Daniel.

The Bedford number seven took the ball forward before hitting a shot from just outside the area that took enough of a deflection off Gary Middleton to wrong foot Elm and hit the back of the net.

This gave Bedford more confidence in attacking.

On 34 minutes, Daniel's run down the right and subsequent cross was snatched at by Ian Draycott and the ball was easily cleared, but only to Rob Miller, whose first time effort from 25 yards forced Elm to make a save.

Daniel was soon at it again, coming in off the right to slide the ball across goal but, despite the attempts of Ian Draycott and McDougald the ball ran harmlessly wide.

The second half kept up the pattern of play from the first, with Bashley constantly going forward and Bedford pulling together to defend.

At times all 11 men were behind the ball, with just the home 'keeper in the Bashley territory.

But still the defence held on, and it wasn't until the 58th minute that a sterling chance should have been converted. This time David Allen headed over from close range following Mark Gamble's cross.

A couple of minutes later McDougald set up Daniel again, but this time his ambitious 30 yard effort flew over the bar.

With the sheer amount of possession afforded to them, it seemed only a matter of time before Bashley got a chance to equalise.

The chance arrived in the 74th minute when a rare lapse of concentration allowed Adam Kelly to enter the Bedford area unimpeded, before being fouled by Paul Draycott and the referee pointing to the spot.

Armitt had been solid throughout and was the hero again, pulling off two saves to deny his adversaries. First was the penalty kick from Allen that the Bedford guardian dived low to his left to save, then the rebound from Gamble.

The home side kept up the onslaught but the Bedford defence made sure that the frustration for Bashley's players and fans alike took on a more visible aspect.

Into the last ten minutes and Keeler skewed a shot wide before Ross Bottomley's header from close range missed the target.

Despite home pressure there was a feeling that Bedford could sew the game up and it nearly happened with four minutes remaining.

Ian Draycott charged down an attempted clearance from Jack Smith but his low shot from the edge of the area was saved.

A minute later though, the points were safe. Daniel tried another long range shot and this time Elm had to react, but only palmed the ball over to the right where McDougald took up the slack.

The Bedford striker crossed the ball in and, in an attempt to deny Ian Draycott a simple tap-in, Middleton smashed the ball past his own 'keeper.

Bashley came forward again. On 90 minutes, Allen headed a free-kick over the bar before a consolation goal was scored five minutes into added time. Keeler's free-kick was helped on to the bar by Armitt and substitute Joe Maxwell had the simplest of touches to help the ball over the line from close range.

There is no let up for Bedford in the next two games, with a trip to second-place placed Brackley on Saturday before entertaining fourth-place placed Cambridge City on Tuesday.

Eagles: Armitt, Hole, P Draycott, Wall, Darby, Miller (C), Daniel (George 90+2), Clark, McDougald, I Draycott, Cole (Damon 90). Not used: Kavanagh, Peacock, Howarth.

Attendance: 196

Star Eagle: Mike Armitt