Centenary cup win for Bedford Hatters

Before a Second Meadow Biggleswade United crowd of 154, it was The Athletic who were to have the games opening chance to break the deadlock eight minutes into the contest when Gary Canzano tamely placed a header from close range into the arms of Hatters goalkeeper Matthew Jones. Whilst for the Hatters, Mark Reed pinged a long range effort just wide of the posts five minutes later.

The game was now very much developing into a nip and tuck affair. First an Athletic pinpointed cross from Caramine Defoe was headed wide by Ashley Mead when it looked easier to score. Whilst down at the other end, Colin Reid brought the first real save of the game out of Hatters goalkeeper Jones.

If anything Hatters were now starting to gain the ascendancy, both Aaron Izzard and Simon Pixley firing efforts wide and high before the lone goal of the night arrived just four minutes from the break.Referee Brian Cooper adjudging the combination of Graham Abbott and Robert Chappell’s challenges on Darak Jozwiak inside the penalty box illegal to award The Hatters a penalty. Up jumped Jozwiak to send Abbey the wrong way and Hatters into a 1-0 lead.

However, it was the Athletic who came out for the second period ‘all guns blazing’ Canzano heading high and wide from close range before Hatters goalkeeper Jones struggled to keep out a Chappell effort underneath his crossbar, that bar then had paint removed when Ashley Mead fired in another long range effort on the hour mark.

But slowly their domination faded and the Hatters were able to defuse the game into a midfield deadlock where neither side fully took control and the sight of another goal was never on the cards until 10 minutes from time when Mark Reed for the Hatters brought a fine save out of Abbey.

So the cup was The Hatters, but had this have been a boxing contest the majority of the neutrals in the crowd would perhaps have given the verdict to The Athletic on points. It was that close.

Bedford Hatters; Matthew Jones, Richard Cook, Aaron Izzard, Darak Jozwiak, Dean Lebrecht, Liam Massey, Simon Pixley, Thomas Redmond, Mark Reed, Ashley Deverall, Colin Reid, Sub Used. Percy Chagwiza

Bedford Sports Athletic; Russell Abbey, Graham Abbott, Daniel Bond, Joe Bridge, Gary Canzano, Robert Chappell, Carmine Defoe, Asa Mead, Ashley Mead, Paul Nigro, Ian Collins, Subs Used. James Mead, Andrew Latimer.