Neighbour doubles up to fire Petersfield past the Eagles

A depleted Bedford Town side started March with a 2-1 loss at Petersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
Bedford Town battled hard but couldn't prevent the defeat. Pic: Phil DuffyBedford Town battled hard but couldn't prevent the defeat. Pic: Phil Duffy
Bedford Town battled hard but couldn't prevent the defeat. Pic: Phil Duffy

On a heavy pitch, the hosts had the first crack at goal when Andy Todd stooped low to connect with a cross to test Ordonez Suarez, and the keeper plucked the ball out of the air.

A few minutes later, Howard Neighbour should have done better, but blasted wide of the mark.

Neighbour didn’t make the same mistake in the 17th minute, however, as he opened the scoring for the home team with a fierce strike from just inside the area.

Worse was to come for Bedford as the hosts increased the lead on 25 minutes when Neighbour shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

A few minutes before half-time, Ordonez Suarez denied Joe Richardson twice, but if the first half belonged to Petersfield, the second half was nearly all Bedford.

The Eagles thought they had pulled a goal back in the 64th minute when a free-kick was played into the area and headed squarely into the path of Nathan Hilaire, who slid the ball into the net. Celebrations were short lived, however, as the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

Petersfield weren’t getting off lightly, as Bedford regained the ball from the free-kick, and Matt Clifford’s shot went just wide.

Bedford kept coming at their hosts without success, until the 79th minute. As another attack came in, Josh Beech nodded the ball down into the danger area, and James Peters slid in to put the ball into the net.

Bedford kept looking for the equaliser. With five minutes left, Beech tested Anthony Ender with a low shot, and in the last minute, Ben Farrell’s free-kick was blocked before a deflection took Matt Clifford’s shot away from goal.

The result sees Bedford drop to 14th in the table. They are back at the Eyrie on Saturday, hosting Potters Bar Town in the league. Kick-off 3pm.

Eagles: Enol Ordonez Suarez, Devante Stanley, Ollie Peters, James Peters, Chris Cordara-Soanes (Lee Hawkes 85), Kyal McNulty (c), James Hillsdon, Ben Farrell, Josh Beech, Nathan Hilaire, Matt Clifford.

Subs not used: Ashley Harris, Mahmut Caglar.

Petersfield: Anthony Ender, Olly Searle, Sean Wain (Daniel Jackman 70), Stuart Green, Lewis Hyde, Jamie Ford (c), Joseph Richardson, Jordan Neal (Michael Needham 84), Howard Neighbour, Joseph Briggs, Andrew Todd.

Subs not used: Ben Buckland, Ian Saunders, Luke Eaton.

Attendance: 72.