Second half triple secures win as Bedford Town shut out Buxton
Bedford Town produced a heartwarming second half for the home fans on Tuesday evening when they beat Buxton 3-0, with all goals coming after the break on a wet and windy night.
Bedford moved up to 14th in the National League North, and were also the first side this season to shut out Buxton, who had scored in their previous 19 matches.
Before the match, a period of silence was wonderfully observed for Remembrance Day, as the Royal British Legion lowered the Standard flag, and played the Last Post.
Boss Lee Bircham made five changes to the side defeated by Merthyr three days previously, and the biggest talking point was the re-introduction of Nathan Ashmore, back from Boreham Wood, ready to resume his loan spell between the sticks.
Sam Brown was back from suspension, and Greg Taylor, Ryan Blackman, and Connor Barratt were all promoted from Saturday’s subs bench.
The first half resembled a wet weekend on the coast, with occasional sunny periods.
In the first minute, George Ward earned a place in the book for an industrial tackle on Junior Gyamfi.
Both sides had enough possession, but nothing to seriously trouble any keeper, and it was 15 minutes before the first corner of the game, but this ended when a tame header was caught by Joe Young.
Connor Kirby then had a speculative shot from range that flew over the bar. Gyamfi did the same as well.
A good chance presented itself to the visitors late in the half when a cross from the left saw Max Bardell taking a swing at the ball and missing.
The last action saw an easy save from Ashmore before the referee blew for half-time on the dot of 45 minutes.
A much livelier start to the second half saw Bedford take the lead just two minutes in.
Getting the ball down the right, Josh Phillips pushed a small pass into the path of Greg Sandiford, on the right byline, and his cross into the area was met with a precision header from Sam Brown, giving Young no real chance.
Soon after, Josh Phillips stuck in a wicked cross, but the defence were ready and got rid of the ball.
Buxton played good football on the ground, but didn’t break through the defence too many times.
One instance saw Cole Kpekawa and Sam Brown combining to snuff out an attack, with the latter playing the ball forward for Tyrone Marsh, who tussled with a defender before shooting from the left corner of the area into the arms of Young.
It took until the 63rd minute for Buxton to test Ashmore, and a stinging shot, following a corner was parried by the Bedford keeper, and just for good measure the ball was cleared away before an away player could capitalise.
As the visitors kept playing the ball around without making any inroads, Marsh relieved the pressure with his 14th goal of the season.
But the plaudits went to Taylor, as he controlled a ball out of defence on the halfway line, beat his marker, and pushed the ball forward for Bedford’s No.10 to keep calm and take the ball away from his own marker before slotting it past the onrushing Young from just inside the area.
Tate Campbell then skimmed a shot from the edge of the D, and and a slight deflection nearly caught out Ashmore, but he recovered to collect.
Bedford’s third, with five minutes of normal time left, saw Josh Phillips put in a lovely cross from the right to the far post, and Marsh was on hand to head home for his brace.
Somehow, eight minutes was added, but neither side came close again.
The Eagles now move to Saturday when Anstey Nomads of the Northern Premier League Midlands Division visit the Eyrie for the Isuzu FA Trophy second round (3pm).