Eagles are held in Beds derby

Bedford started the game well after Serigne Mor Diop got past Sam Wyer in the Leighton goal but he couldn’t find the target from a tight angle.

The Eagles had another chance through Mor Diop, but he and Matt Clifford both went for the same ball and neither player struck it with any pace.

Bedford were doing well to press Leighton and deservedly took the lead in the 23rd minute through Josh Beech as he nodded a header past Wyer from three yards out.

Leighton had been moving the ball around nicely in the first half but hadn’t had a shot until skipper Ben Gallant fired in an effort that Bedford keeper Enol Ordonez Suarez saved fairly comfortably.

There was more of a sense of urgency from Leighton in the second half and, after a good cross from Gallant, Hatch was inches away from equalising.

This increased tempo paid off on the 63rd minute as a Gallant free-kick eventually reached Hatch who, from 15 yards out, struck a lovely volley that flew past Suarez.

There was a big stoppage in play when Mor Diop went down with a bad injury to his leg, and after play resumed Leighton were still just about the better side.

Hatch had another good effort but his strike was straight at Suarez.

Leighton defender Jordan Jenkin was proving a tough obstacle to pass for Bedford, but despite this the Eagles were still trying to get all three points.

After a goal mouth scramble, Leighton just about managed cleared the ball out, before Bedford had a free-kick that had to be cleared off the line.

In the end, neither side could get a decisive second goal and the game finished 1-1; an outcome which was probably justified on the balance of play.