An own goal just after the half hour secured a win for Bedford against League Two opponents, Peterborough Utd. As against Cambridge, the Eagles played 3 at the back. There was little to talk about with the opening exchanges, with both sides cancelling each other out. On the 25 minute mark, Ben Farrell forced a save off Mark Tyler, after Michael Lyon and Stuart Sinclair had combined to get the ball into the area. On 30 minutes, Sinclair got behind the Peterborough defence to cross in from the left byline. James Hatch couldn’t capitalise on the cross, with the ball finally saved by Tyler from the head of Ian Draycott. The resulting corner by Robbie Miller was headed into his own net by Guy Branston. In the 35^th minute, Miller’s 25 yard free kick was tipped over the bar by Tyler. Peterborough ended the half on the ascendancy. Alfie Potter jinxed his way into the Bedford area on 37 minutes, forcing a save off Andrew Stevens. With a couple of minutes of the half to go, Craig Mackail-Smith fired over from 10 yards. The 2^nd half mirrored the 1^st, starting slowly. Draycott was yet again denied by Tyler, in the 67^th minute, after Hatch took advantage of an Andrew Phillips head-down to flick the ball into the area. The young Bedford striker hesitated on his shot and the ball was saved by the onrushing ‘keeper. Andrew Stevens could only parry a long distance effort from Jack Lyon, on 70 mins. Courtney Howard picked up the rebound, pushing the ball back to Potter, whose shot was deflected over the bar by the head of Derwayne Stupple. 6 minutes later and Potter was denied by the post. The young Peterborough player had had most of their efforts on goal, and in the 82^nd minute forced substitute ‘keeper, Mike Armitt to save low to his right. A minute later the woodwork denied Potter for the 2^nd time after his curler came off the bar. In the last few minutes, Bill Crook’s 25 yard effort whizzed narrowly past the post. This was a good display from Bedford, and a fair amount of pressure was soaked up in the final minutes.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, it will take an outstanding result to knock the memory of the opening game of the season into touch. Although the two clubs clashed in the 70’s and early 80’s in the Southern League, Bromsgrove Rovers were making their first ever trip to Meadow Lane, and a memorable visit it would prove to be. Stuart Bimson used a 3-4-1-2 formation, favouring Andrew Stevens in goal to Michael Armitt. Craig Grieve, Steve Gentle and Jon Darby held up the defence, with Ben Farrell, Derwayne Stupple, Rob Miller and Stuart Sinclair in midfield. Ian Draycott played just behind James Hatch and Michael Lyon. The visitors set their stall out very early, using their height to good advantage, but it was Bedford who nearly took the lead, as early as the 5^th minute. Draycott, Lyon and Sinclair combined down the left flank, with Sinclair finally crossing the ball into the area. James Hatch rose, but his goal bound header was deflected off for a corner. Bromsgrove took the lead 3 minutes later when Gary Hay outpaced Jon Darby to latch onto a through ball, finally chipping the ball past Stevens. Despite all the promise from the pre-season fixtures, Bedford were unable to settle against a well-drilled Bromsgrove side. Hay caused problems in the 13^th minute teasing a cross into the area, from the right wing. The ball evaded all except Kevin Banner, at the far post, but he skied his shot. Bedford went 2 down on 23 minutes when Hay pounced on a rebound after Stevens saved Banner’s header, following a free kick. On the half hour mark, Stevens collided with Neil Davis, prompting Bimson to bring on Michael Armitt. The Bedford ‘keeper was stretchered off, and taken to hospital as a precaution. Bedford were forced to shoot from range in the latter stages of the half, although Steve Gentle headed narrowly wide from a Rob Miller corner in the 38^th minute. Bedford needed to get back into the game, and 2 minutes into the 2^nd half nearly did. Ian Draycott won the ball on the right, crossed in to the area, but the ball went behind Michael Lyon, who did well to push back to James Hatch, but James’ sidefooted shot was saved by the legs of Bromsgrove ‘keeper, Karl Lewis. Much of the 2^nd half was a dire affair with Bromsgrove content with the lead and Bedford unable to break down the visitors’ formation. With the game petering out, Bromsgrove popped in two more goals. Substitute, Jermaine Clarke was put through, and with just Armitt to beat was taken down in the area by the Bedford ‘keeper. Armitt got a yellow and Kevin Banner slammed home the penalty, wide to the right. On the cusp of full time, a ball from the left wing bounced of the shin of Clarke, beating Armitt. Before the ball could go off for a goal kick, Paul Lloyd crept in to direct it over the line.

Bedford bounced back from Saturday’s drubbing with a hard fought and hard-earned win at Halesowen. With Andrew Stevens out through injury, Michael Armitt took the No1 shirt. Added to this enforced change, Stuart Bimson changed the side’s formation to 4-4-2, with Shane Brown added to the defence at the expense of Ian Draycott. The visitors took a little while to settle down, and despite a tight angled shot from Michael Lyon prompting an easy save from James Dormand in the 4^th minute, were on the back foot. With 10 minutes gone, a long kick from Dormand evaded the Bedford defence, giving Aaron Farrell an opportunity. At the edge of the area, and with Armitt rushing out to narrow any angle, Farrell lobbed the ball and the two players collided. The ball came off the top of the bar before it was cleared, and play was held up whilst Armitt received attention. The game settled down, with both sides unable to make an impact… until the 25^th minute. A poor kick out from Dormand put his defence under pressure. Lyon took advantage, rounded the ‘keeper on the edge of the area, but couldn’t get a shot in on goal. His cross in the area found James Hatch, whose shot was blocked before he pushed the rebound back out of the area. Thundering in, with all the frustrations from Saturday, was Ben Farrell, and before you could blink the ball was slammed into the net, although Dormand – back in his goal - managed to get a hand to the ball. This unsettled the home side, and before the end of the half Bedford could have added to the score. Ed Booth nearly headed into his own net in the 33^rd minute, and in the 45^th min, Rob Miller’s 25-yard free kick, through the defending wall, was saved by Dormand. There was more purpose to the home side at the start of the 2^nd half. Immediately from kick off, Aaron Farrell raced down the right flank, and crossing into the area. The ball evaded all, only to be returned into the middle by Liam McDonald. The ball was half cleared to Azariah O’Garro, whose shot from the edge of the area whistled just wide of the left hand post. Just before the hour, each side squandered a free kick in prime areas. The lead was extended in the 66^th minute. Stuart Sinclair received the ball on the left, tried his luck from 25 yards out and saw the ball go over Dormand into the net, via a deflection off a Yeltz defender. Steve Gentle saw his header bobble just wide of the right hand post in the 69^th minute, following a Craig Grieve free kick.2 goal leads are still fragile, and Halesowen nearly pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining. O’Garro heading just over from a Shane Paul free kick. A minute later, defending a corner, Bedford nearly snatched a 3^rd. Ben Farrell punted the ball upfield to an unmarked Lyon, who raced towards goal, and with just Dormand to beat, fired his shot too high. Bedford survived a couple of wobbly moments in the last 10 minutes. Shane Paul headed wide when set up by McDonald, and in the 86^th minute, Rob Miller’s misjudged back header let in Aaron Farrell, whose low shot was saved by Armitt. Just before the final whistle, Sinclair had another go, but this time the ball curled over the bar.