Southern Premier

Bedford Town 0 King's Lynn 3

Bedford Town's hopes of forging a cushion between themselves and the BGB Southern League Premier Division relegation places came to nothing as they were comprehensively beaten by promotion chasing King's Lynn at The New Eyrie on Easter Monday.

In front of a good holiday crowd that was double the average for the Eagles, goals from Ben Sedgemore, Matt Nolan and Michael Frew secured a comfortable victory for the in-form Linnets.

After a nondescript opening, it was the Eagles who had the first chance when Derwayne Stupple fired a crisp effort straight at Scott Howie in the fourth minute.

The high-flying visitors - unbeaten in the league since January 5 - took their time to settle and it wasn't until the 10th minute that they threatened but Matt Nolan's strike flew harmlessly wide.

Four minutes later the Linnets went in front. Joe Francis did well to get the ball across and as the home defence stood watching, Sedgemore strolled unchecked through the centre and buried the ball past Andrew Stevens.

It was the last thing Stuart Bimson's side wanted after a decent start and a good move could have seen the score doubled but Stevens saved well from Rikki Bains.

As the visitors began to assert their authority, Stuart Sinclair had a 20 yard strike parried away by Howie but this proved to be a rare foray forward.

The Eagles' commitment could not be questioned but the difference in standing of the respective sides was clear to see.

Just before the half hour, Bedford were left with a mountain to climb when Nolan doubled King's Lynn's advantage when he slickly finished from a tight angle after being put through by Sedgemoor.

A last ditch tackle denied Josh Sozzo seconds after the restart but the closing stages of the half all belonged to the visitors.

A couple of threatening free-kicks were hammered against the wall and both Jack Defty and John Turner failed to apply the finishing touches to promising moves.

Eddie Lawley's first-time effort resulted in the Eagles' first corner of the game just before the interval but the threat petered out.

Adam Fry's free-kick in the opening seconds of the second period went to waste but as the contest settled into a rhythm, it was again the visitors who held sway.

Although chances were becoming scarce, the majority of the possession belonged to King's Lynn.

Bimson made a double change just before the hour, Ian Draycott and Matt Childs introduced to the fray for the ineffective Adam Fry and Sinclair but the balance of power failed to swift.

Too often the Eagles attacks were ill-directed but a rare piece of fluency from Draycott resulted in an opening for James Hatch but his effort was deflected wide.

King's Lynn were no longer the constant threat of the first half but they did not look like relinquishing their lead either with the Eagles' main problem, yet again, being their lack of menace in front of goal.

Sozzo squirted a shot across the six yard area and Howie saved from Craig Grieve as Bedford made a late surge to try and claim some reward for their efforts, but it was Keith Webb's outfit who made sure that they would take home the points when Michael Frew's 90th minute free-kick found the target.

On this form there is little doubt that King's Lynn will be challenging for a place in the Blue Sqaure South come the end of April but equally certain is the fact that Bedford have a nervy month ahead of them at the other end of the table.

Eagles: Stevens, Miller, Lawley, Darby, Grieve, Hatch, Fry (Draycott, 59), Stupple, Phillips, Sozzo, Sinclair (Childs, 59).

Attendance: 615