A super sunny Saturday afternoon for the trip to The New Eyrie, home of Bedford Town, The Eagles. A well run club and really nice people here. A good crowd of 746 in a ground with a single stand in the middle of three sides which always seems to me to have stopped at Phase 1 of development.
For today, Cookie selected Wilmot in goal, 4 at the back: Gledhill, Brown (C), Seeby and Murray; 4 in the middle: Graham, Wraight, Deacon and Oakes; and up front: De Souza and Tomlinson. On the bench: Martin, McDonnell, Glynn, Castle and White.
An even first quarter with both sides playing a passing game. Oakes was injured on 15 minutes, to be replaced by Castle, with Deacon playing wide which gave a somewhat unbalanced look to the midfield. Midway through the half, the home side scored with a well-taken header by Lynch from a cross from the right. City stepped up a gear and dominated the remainder of the half. Plenty of possession and position with attacks coming from both Graham and Deacon on either flank but the Saints strikers could not find the target. H.T. 1-0.
It seemed to be one-way traffic in the second half. City were comfortably in control in defence and surely several goals would come. Again, however, the strikers could not find the target. The home keeper was troubled, firstly by a Deacon header, then one from Tomlinson and then blocked a De Souza strike onto the post. With 20 minutes remaining, Cookie replaced Graham with Martin and De Souza with McDonnell and changed to an all-out 4-4-3 formation and a more direct game. Still, City could not hit the net. Corners, crosses and shots but no goals. F.T. 1-0.
Cookie will be very disappointed that the myriad (good word, that) of chances could not be converted. The work-rate of the visitors could not be faulted and City played very good football, today. But no goals. They will not create as many opportunties again this season without taking several of them. Bedford Town move up to 4th with these three points but they didn't have much to offer today. The defence looked suspect to me. The home MotM was their keeper. He was certainly busy recovering the ball from behind the goal and won't take more goal-kicks in a game. For me? Brown or perhaps Deacon. Graham had a very good first half.
Entertainment 6/10. Technical merit 7/10. Referee 5/10. Atmosphere 7/10.
Match report by Awayday |
