League

Welford Park
Spectators: 6852 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1852, VIP seats: 0) Bedford's Eddy Carlick started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Dave Giugno made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eddy Carlick in the 10th minute of play. Eddy Carlick fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dave Giugno having to interfere. Brian Close scored 1-1 in the 14th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Dave Giugno , who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Welford booed when Bedford was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brian Close didn't get a good kick on the ball. 19 minutes into the match, Bedford's goal looked a bit too open when Reuben Dawson came free, but Jacob Clapham reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 21 minutes, Alexander Rice managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Welford's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alexander Rice was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Eddy Carlick sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Eddy Carlick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 32 minutes into the match, Bedford's goal looked a bit too open when Reuben Dawson came free, but Jacob Clapham reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 33 minutes into the match, Welford's goal looked a bit too open when Eddy Carlick came free, but Dave Giugno reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Reuben Dawson might have been able to make a better finish in the 36th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jacob Clapham . Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Reuben Dawson ran back to his position shaking his head. After a rather tough play, Bedford's Eddy Carlick got a free kick in the 41st minute. Dave Giugno took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eddy Carlick , even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Eddy Carlick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Vance Golding fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jacob Clapham having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Reuben Dawson made a kick off. Vance Golding fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jacob Clapham having to interfere. A collision led to Welford getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. John Cornforth hit a great ball. Bedford's Eddy Carlick got a good chance for a goal in the 57th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Brian Close recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 60th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Jacob Clapham stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Reuben Dawson 's shot from short distance in the 65th minute. In the 68th minute Eddy Carlick shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dave Giugno saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Bedford's zone, Vance Golding stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jacob Clapham came out of the goal and Vance Golding tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Maurice Beech hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. Dave Giugno made an important save on a dangerous shot by Brian Close in the 75th minute. Dave Giugno made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eddy Carlick in the 81st minute of play. In the 82nd minute, Eddy Carlick reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Dave Giugno . The goal made the score 1-2. Brian Close received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Dave Giugno tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 88th minute of the match, Brian Close got a very nice opportunity to score, but Dave Giugno was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Eddy Carlick was extremely unlucky when he, in the 89th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. The audience thought a goal was coming when Brian Close got free with Dave Giugno in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Eddy Carlick had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.