|
Saints 2 O'Donoghue 20, Strutton 35 Bedfont Town 3 Stanislaus 64pen, Jacobs 66, Scott 79 Division One Central (Saturday 28 January) Saints were caught in a Catch-22 situation for this game and failed to resolve the cunundrum. Eighth-place and with home advantage they should have been strong favourites against 19th placed Bedfont, but Bedfont were the team in form and looking for another top ten scalp after their recent win against St Neots. The early exchanges were cautious as the two sides settled in to the game. Bedfont looked free flowing and a more potent threat than expected from their position in the table. Saints looked a side aware of their poor home record this season. The Saints defence was tested several times and Mark Oliver had to be alert to protect his goal. Kyle Jeffery scuffed an early chance after some good work by Alan Hedley and it was Hedley who, as ever, set Charlie Strutton free with an incisive pass on 20 minutes for the in-demand striker to run through before passing the ball across the face of the goal for Jamie O'Donoghue to arrive, Pinocchio-like, all arms, legs and enthusiasm, to get the final touch over the line. Bedfont pressed hard to get back into the game with Mark Oliver saving well at Stansilaus's feet before they missed an easier chance as Saints failed to clear a free kick. But it was saints who extended their lead after 35 minutes with a move of stunning simplicity. An accurate clearance from Oliver found O'Donoghue in midfield and a crisp pass out to Terrell Lewis on the right set the trickster free and his pinpoint cross found the incoming Charlie Strutton who headed powerfully into the bottom corner. The visitors had to do something in the second half if they were to get anything out the game. For a side that had scored three goals in a game only once before this season, and that being back in August, it looked like a tall order; surely one that Saints couldn't succumb to? They increased the tempo and played higher up the pitch, squeezing the Saints midfield, where there were some disappointing absentees, and forced Saints to defend deeper, something they have yet to master. This tactic has been used against Chalfont previously this season, notably by Burnham in the FA Cup, and it was disappointing that no counter-tactics were employed. Kyle Jeffery went down with an early injury and before Saints had fully reorganised at the back Bedfont thought they had gained a toehold in the game through Stainslaus as he opened up the Saints defence and his cross goal shot seemed goalbound but agonisingly hit the post and John Carroll cleared the follow up shot off the line. Chalfont's afternoon began to fall apart on 62 minutes as Carroll was caught out appealing for offside and was left playing catch up against Lee Scott and in the first of several increasingly bizarre decisions by the referee, his recovering tackle was deemed fair but he was adjudged to have pulled Scott's shirt; enough for a penalty but not for any sort of card. Reis Stanislaus did the honours from the penalty spot and Bedfont were back in the game. Minutes later matters got worse as Bedfont were awarded a disputed free kick on the edge of the area. Whatever the merits, the resulting kick by Joel Jacobs was a beautiful example of a curled kick into the top corner and suddenly the scores were level. Glenn Yala had a shot cleared off the line and Mark Oliver was further exercised as both sides sought the advantage. The breakthrough came on 79 minutes as an over hit cross was knocked back into the six yard box and Lee Scott tidily put the visitors ahead. The last 10 minutes was increasing fraught for Saints supporters as they convinced themselves that they were battling the referee as well as their determined opponents. Charlie Strutton was flattened for what looked like a stonewall penalty and he was denied an equaliser when a clear advantage was not played when Yala was fouled on the edge of the area. Bedfont confidently ran out the clock in the corner to claim the three points. Saints: Mark Oliver, Lewis Cumber, Jerome Okimo, Kyle Jeffery (Glenn Yala 56), John Carroll, Alan Hedley, Terrell Lewis (Daniel Tomlin 78), Chris Mills (Bedel Guei 69), Charlie Strutton, Jamie O'Donoghue, Adam Louth. Star Player: Jerome Okimo Attendance: 55 |
