In a game cloaked in officiating controversy, Bedford Town suffered passively at the hands of St. Ives, who put three past the Eagles with no response.
St Ives Town, captained by last season’s Bedford Town skipper Alex Collard, put Bedford to the sword in efficient style, scoring one in the first half and two in the second, rising to ninth, and to within two points of Bedford Town who now sit eighth in Southern League Premier Central.
With both sides out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy, the ensuing festive period promises to be heavily league focussed.
This weekend was an opportunity for Bedford Town to tighten their grip on the playoff positions as we hurtle toward the mid-way point of the season.
Within seconds of the kick-off, the visitors had a penalty shout, with debutant Amir Hadi going over in the box under the challenge of McDonald.
Despite fierce protests from the dugout and the meagrely populated away end, the referee waved it away. That would be where Bedford Town’s luck with the referee ran dry.
The first 30 minutes were played with a brisk intensity, though shots on goal came few and far between.
St.Ives attempted to patiently build from the back with Collard and Williams dictating possession, though were pick-pocketed by the Eagles press on a number of occasions.
O’Keefe was caught with his back to goal by Ryan Blake who then sped by Williams but could only fire his shot down the throat of Wilks, much to the dismay of the fans behind the goal.
Eagles rue decisions
With ten minutes remaining in the first half, a contentious decision would sway the odds heavily in the favour of the visitors.
After what looked to be a rather innocuous coming together between Luton-loanee Josh Odell-Bature and Smith of St.Ives, the Bedford Town number 2 went down holding his head.
The Bedford Town players protested for the ball to be put out of play so that Odell-Bature could be seen to by the physio.
In spite of this, the referee allowed play to continue and following a slick move down the right flank by Mensah, St.Ives were presented with a chance.
Will Glennon strode onto the ball and curved it exquisitely into the top left corner with a helping hand from McDonald.
Bedford Town did mount a resistance at the start of the second half with set pieces were their primary avenue of attack, and with 10 minutes gone in the second half, they picked up a free-kick in a threatening position.
Elliot Simmons promptly delivered it towards the back post where Lobjoit was lurking. His effort was saved expertly by Wilks, and from that St.Ives sprung into action on the counter.
After the referee waved away a foul on Odell-Bature amidst the high-speed commotion, Amir Hadi released Johnson Gyamfi on the right wing who wrong-footed McDonald to make it two.
From that point on, Bedford appeared deflated, and with the departure of Gyamfi from the field of play, they lost their spark. He was mercurial with the ball on the day but fiercely tenacious without it.
Another controversial decision finishes tie
Thirty minutes of vaguely attack-based possession and a high and wide snapshot from Lobjoit later, Bedford had salt rubbed into their wounds in a rather unconventional way.
Following a refereeing display that had been rather poorly received by the home support, the man in black still had one questionable decision left to give.
Following a melee in the Bedford penalty area, Sam Brown put in a tackle on Corree Wilson to put an end to the threat. The ball was travelling goal-bound and had to be caught by McDonald.
In the eyes of the referee it was a back pass for which he awarded the Saints an indirect free-kick.
Meade rolled it into the path of Wilson who swept it into the bottom corner from six yards out to compile Eagles misery.
Despite it being remembrance weekend, this is certainly one to forget for Bedford Town who could have shot up to the top three with a win.
Next up on the fixture list for the Eagles is FA Cup second-round bound side, Kettering Town.
The Poppies sit top of the Southern Premier Division Central and are spearheaded by former Newcastle United marksman, Nile Ranger.
However difficult a game it may appear to be on paper, Bircham’s men will certainly be looking to bounce back with three points on the road.
