Bedford Town (a) on Tue 11th Oct, KO 19:45

[Daedalus]

Southern League Premier Division -
Bedford Town (16th) v St. Albans City (14th)
Tuesday 11th October 2011, KO 19:45

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/1310719688_large.jpg

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/4517476296.jpg v No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/stalbans.jpg

The New Eyrie, Meadow Lane, Cardington, Bedford MK44 3SB
No images allowed -http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/assets/images/Bedford_Town_3.jpg

STATTO'S CORNER (written by Daedalus):

Bedford Town Quick Guide:
Club founded: 1908 (reformed in 1989)*
Nickname: The Eagles
Club colours: Blue with white trim
10 year record:

01-02	02-03	03-04	04-05	05-06	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11
IsthP 17th	IsthP 9th	IsthP 15th	SthP 5th	SthP 5th	ConfS 22nd	SthP 19th	SthP 15th	SthP 18th	SthP 17th

* The original Bedford Town club was formed in 1908 but wound up in 1982. Seven years later, in 1989, the club was reformed. See the club history link below for more information.

Read more about the Eagles' club history by clicking here.


Interesting links:

Bedford Town's official website

Directions to the ground can be found here.

Bedford Town's page on Wikipedia

Bedford Town forum

Two goals apiece for Drew Roberts and James Faulkner helped Bedford to a 4-2 win away at Cirencester on Saturday afternoon. You can see a brief report on the front page of their website.

Pyramid Passions Ground Guide

We'll add any other interesting links to this thread as they appear.


Current Form (last 5 matches in the league):
Bedford Town - LLWLW (home form - LWLLL)

St. Albans City - LWLLD (away form - LWLLL)


Top league goalscorer(s):
Bedford Town - Drew Roberts is hammering in the goals for Bedford Town in the league this season. He has 12 goals so far, which isn't a bad tally, although three are penalties!

St. Albans City - The Saints have had 10 different goalscorers in the league so far this season. After Saturday, Rob Haworth and Jerome Walker lead the way with three goals each.


Latest Saints team news:

- According to the St. Albans Review report of the Arlesey match, it seems that Howell revealed after the game that the injured duo of Haworth and Bent are both likely to be missing for a couple of weeks.

- The Saints have signed up Kgosietsile Ntlhe, a 17-year-old defender on loan from Peterborough, who is a direct replacement for now departed work experience fullback Nathan Ralph.


Possible Saints starting XI (in a 4-4-2 formation):

No images allowed -http://footballformation.co.uk/team/442/111011123109.png

Quick Stats Guide (league matches only):

Bedford Town:
- Not won at home for 3 games
- 12 points out of the last 24

St. Albans City:
- One win in 5 matches
- Scored in the last 6 games
- 11 points of the last 27

[Daedalus]

THE FINAL WORD - written by Saint (Jake Ellacott)


How did the Saints get on against Arlesey?

The Saints drew 2-2 at home to the Bedfordshire club on Saturday, after the visitors managed to draw level with 2 goals in 2 minutes.

Rob Haworth scored the opener for City when he beat the Arlesey 'keeper to the ball. Walker doubled the lead in the 31st minute when he slotted the ball home. The Saints looked comfortable up until HT.

After the break, the away side put more pressure on, but the Saints also had chances to cement their win.

With 72 mintues gone on the clock, Arlesey's Chris Dillon put the ball into the back of the net, and gave the visitors hope. A minute later, Arlesey went forward again, and equalised through Chris Marsh.

Late on , to compound the misery of letting Arlesey back into the game, City defender Ryan Watts was given his marching orders for an off the ball incident.


What did David Howell have to say about it?

Howell talked in his post-match interview about the importance of confidence in football. Against Arlesey, he felt that we lost a little confidence and concentration during the spell when Arlesey scored their quick fire double. He was, however, pleased with the reaction after the sending off of Ryan Watts and noted that the players showed passion and a bit more about themselves after that setback. However, Howell admitted that it did feel like a defeat after having been 2-0 up in the first-half.

Commenting on the sending off of Watts, Howell suggested, with some considerable justification, that Arlesey were a team who claimed for everything and who tried to influence and to pressure the referee over every decision. Howell said that the referee was unfortunately tricked by the Arlesey players in the case of Watts' sending off and made a poor decision.

Talking about the Bedford game, Howell confirmed that Haworth and Bent would be missing with injury.

You can listen to the full interview at SACFC.co.uk by clicking this link.


How did Bedford Town do in their last game?

The Eagles cruised to a 4-2 win away at Cirencester. Two goals from hot-shot and ex-Saints Drew Roberts, along with two from James Faulkner.


Finally:

So will the Saints bring down the Eagles? Or will City slip-up against their Bedforshire rivals? Get involved in the pre- and post-match discussion in the thread below.

COYS! No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/gialloblu.gif

[Daedalus]

The City Archives - Bedford Town, 2004[/u]

We have a new feature to place alongside our previews this season, as one of Saints Chat's regular posters, Brummie, delves into the history books to provide us with match reports from the past. This gives a chance to walk down memory lane, or learn a little about City's past, before the next match in the present!

This time, Brummie has given us a typed report of the Ryman League Play off Final in 2004.

BEDFORD TOWN v ST ALBANS CITY

Ryman League Play off Final 2004

More than a thousand fans were treated to a feast of exciting attacking football as the saints recovered from a two goal deficit at half time to finally secure a place in next season’s Conference Division One South.

A fine injury time winner by Steve Watts was the goal of the game.

The Eagles were pre-match favourites having secured a league double over City this season. But absent from the home side due to suspension were skipper Lee Howarth and the experienced Eddie Lawley. For Saints Chris Zoricich was suspended and Captain Derek Brown failed a late fitness test prompting a recall for the popular youngster Chris Seeby and Player of the Season Miguel De Souza.

City started brightly and opened the scoring on seven minutes. Watts made space wide on the left despite the close attention of two defenders and hit a fine cross which was mishit by Greg Deacon and deflected by Steve Jackman into the net off the far post.

The visitors enjoyed the best of the opening 15 minutes, restricting Bedford to counter attacks when the experienced strikers Rene Howe and Drew Roberts both looked dangerous. City keeper George Clark thwarted both with fine saves within minutes of the opening goal and at the other end Adam Parker failed to make contact with a Scott Oakes free kick with the goal seemingly at his mercy. Following this a Watts back header was inches high of the cross bar.

Bedford equalised on 20 minutes when midfielder Liam Folds rose unchallenged to meet a corner with a powerful header, prompting the home side to take control of the game.

On 32 minutes the Eagles scored their second when a fine through ball by Howe was gathered by Julian Capone who cleverly rounded Clark and then clipped a fine shot into the back of the net.

The home side seemed Conference bound when they extended their lead in the 37th minute with Folds meeting a Daniel French free kick with a diving header.

City were on the rack for the closing minutes of the half with Clark forced to make fine saves from both Roberts and French before the break.

Half Time Bedford Town 3 St Albans City 1

The Saints needed to find inspiration and manager Steve Castle brought himself on from the bench within a minute of the restart. Remarkably Bedford seemed content to sit on their two goal lead and conceded the initiative to the visitors who took it gladly.

The Saints midfield rose to the occasion magnificently with Castle and Parker running affairs with a passing game seen infrequently by the City faithful this term.

City pulled a goal back on 59 minutes when a Castle free kick was deflected by De Souza to the far post for Parker to head home from close range. The equaliser followed nine minutes later when a clever ball from Parker into the area was handled by Folds and Lee Clarke made no mistake with a powerfully hit penalty kick.

City were playing fine football but chances fell at both ends. Three times Clark made fine saves to deny Roberts on the counter attack and, for their part City had two seemingly legitimate penalty appeals denied when first Clarke and then Deacon were sent tumbling in the area after tackles from behind that made no contact with the ball.

The visitors deservedly took the lead for the second time in the match in the 75th minute when a Steve Castle free-kick was firmly met at the back post by the unmarked De Souza.

The home support, muted for much of the second half, tried to rally their troops and were rewarded 10 minutes from time when Roberts sprung the offside trap only to be brought down just inside the box by De Souza when was relieved to see only a yellow card rather than red. Roberts got up and hit the spot kick high to Clark’s right for his 28th goal of the season.

Saints maintained the pressure though and Bedford had keeper Ian Brown to thank for two super saves from, Watts and Deacon as the game headed into injury time.

City deservedly settled the game with the goal of the game as the seconds ticked by. Watts received a pass from Castle just on the edge of the area. The striker chested the ball down, turned and hit a right foot shot which curled beyond Brown’s fingertips into the far top corner of the net.

The final whistle followed and prompted scenes of wild celebration for the City players and fans who will play in the new Conference League next season. Bedford meanwhile will fall to the lower tier of the Ryman League.

Full Time Bedford Town 4 St Albans City 5

Team G Clark, R Thomas, D Sargent, G Wraight, M De Souza, C Seeby, (S Castle). S Oakes, (D Perkins), A Parker, L Clarke, S Watts, G Deacon. Unused subs W Jackman, N Gough, Butler.

Thanks, as always, go to Brummie for delving into the City Archives to provide us with an interesting read alongside our usual match previews!

[Deleted]

1-0 bakare

[Deleted]

2-0 watts

[Deleted]

2-2

[Saint]

Again?! Jeez!

[Canary Saint]

First Half - Kick & rush, city somehow manage to score two well taken goals.

Second Half - Kick & rush. City have majority of possession with occasional threat on Bedford's goal. Drew Roberts scores two goals.

Not good enough I feel.

:-(

[Deleted]

Hard to believe we didn't win this,yet again two against in two minutes, but this was a much improved performance over the last four games.If Bakare hadn't missed an absolute sitter five mins into the second half a moral boosting win would have been secured.For me Cutchley was mom. Onwards and upwards methinks.

[saintsped]

lets face it Ridley has appointed a Manager simply not good enough at this level..a mediocre track record at Harrow who makes too many changes week-in-week-out and fails to inspire or motivate. His treatment of our most creative player says it all really. Working to a decent players budget this season his choice of player is questionable to say the least..a relegation battle looms

[Deleted]

How did we play last night saintsped? Interested on your viewpoint of the game different to lonecrank?

[Deleted]

Managers post-match interview is available :-

www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-manager-interview/1708-howell-we-are-disappointed-not-to-have-won.html

Sounds like Castle is back at times, talking about 'taking the positives from the negatives'

[Aries]

We lost Steve Castle's second game 9-1 having drawn with bottom placed Braintree 0-0 the weekend before. I don't think it has been quite that bad yet. Castle only stayed manager because of the vile Oaklands connection. I think Owsy deserves better than that comment,

[kermit]

In my opinion the jury is out on Castle. His first spell was a disaster but I don't think that he was ever given a chance second time around. I don't think that there are many managers who would have done a good job with what he had to contend with.

With regard to the game last night, it was a big improvement. We played ok in the first half but were lucky to come in 2 nil up at half time. The first 30 minutes of the second half we played well and looked comfortable at the back and a threat going forward. Bakare missed a sitter and Bedford never looked like they were going to get back into the game until they scored 2 in about a minute! After that, both sides had chances to win.

Whilst is was disappointing to throw away a 2 goal lead, it was good to see that the team was capable of playing good football instead of the hoofball that we have seen recently. Walker and Bakare always looked a threat although they were a bit erratic at times but they certainly ran themselves into the ground. The left back on loan from Peterborough looks like a very good player.

[Deleted]

So do I. Having witnessed more castle games than i care to remember that comment by thesaints proves that some people really don't have a clue about football. Besides the 2 mention who can forget the debacle against oxhey jets. It would appear there is a sad undercurrent amongst saints 'supporters'

[EFMTFTV]

Oct 12, 2011 21:35:36 GMT kermit said:

In my opinion the jury is out on Castle. His first spell was a disaster but I don't think that he was ever given a chance second time around. I don't think that there are many managers who would have done a good job with what he had to contend with.

Really?

Do you not remember his first season back, he had riches like Hakim, Sunday, Bruce , Thurlbourne, Bastock, Ben Martin and still managed a worse record than Anderson and Hanlan in his first 10 games
Even the two seasons after that he had plenty of players that would have been on decent money like Drew Roberts, Bazza, Ben Martin

This idea he spent 4 seasons with the lowest budget in the league is laughable
He was incompetent as a manager and luckily Ridley saw that and 99% of our support did as well

[Boomer]

Oct 12, 2011 15:19:48 GMT thesaints said:

Couldn't of said it better myself, totally agree.

Try using 'have' instead of 'of', thesaints and it might make some sense.

Oct 12, 2011 21:37:41 GMT @gaz said:

So do I. Having witnessed more castle games than i care to remember that comment by thesaints proves that some people really don't have a clue about football. Besides the 2 mention who can forget the debacle against oxhey jets. It would appear there is a sad undercurrent amongst saints 'supporters'

Spot on, gaz.

[brummie]

If only we could play like Spain did against Scotland the other night.

[Canary Saint]

Oct 13, 2011 6:17:41 GMT Boomer said:

Oct 12, 2011 15:19:48 GMT thesaints said:

Couldn't of said it better myself, totally agree.

Try using 'have' instead of 'of', thesaints and it might make some sense.

Oct 12, 2011 21:37:41 GMT @gaz said:

So do I. Having witnessed more castle games than i care to remember that comment by thesaints proves that some people really don't have a clue about football. Besides the 2 mention who can forget the debacle against oxhey jets. It would appear there is a sad undercurrent amongst saints 'supporters'

Spot on, gaz.

Hmmmmm...

1)

I'm sure thesaints does not need me to stick up for him, but what has another person's grammar got to do with anything particularly on a football forum of all things.

2)

"...............a sad undercurrent amongst saints 'supporters" is an interesting statement. It's strikes me that everyone is entitled to an opinion and a right to reply.

3)

For what it's worth, I think that the jury is still out on the current manager, his pass record is not particularly good and so far this season performances have been at best average. Early days I know but not too soon I feel to want to see some progress and consistency.

[Boomer]

We are something like 16 games in at the moment and, in the big scheme of things, that is nothing, especially when building a team from scratch as David Howells has had to do and is still doing, for that matter. I still keep thinking back to Alex Ferguson's first season in charge at Man Utd. Perhaps, a little patience needs to be exercised here.

[Deleted]

Exactly, it's such early days; though Spain will only ever be considered truly world class when they've done the business away to redditch on a February tuesday night

Oh and Canary please explain why you feel you are being denied the right of reply?

[Saint]

Isn't it well known that managers, especially in Howell's situation when joining, need around 2 years until they can start to be judged, sure, some may be eager for results, but a project takes time, and there needs to be a level of stability before the club can start moving up the leagues again.

Castle or Howell? Howell hands down, I cant believe that Castle's name is even being mentioned. Sure, he did a decent job in the circumstances, but as other's have said, especially just after he took over, he still had some very high payed and good players to try and achieve something with.

[Daedalus]

I agree with the general consensus in here. I think Howell appears to be a good manager and he deserves time and patience from the supporters whilst he continues to develop and build this team.

I liked Steve Castle and wanted him to do well. He deserves our respect for the way he kept fighting under awful circumstances at the end of his time at the club. However, Castle is the past now and things have moved on. For what it's worth, I think a fresh start was the right move going into this new era for the club.

Preparations for this season were far from ideal and Howell had very little time to build a totally new side to compete at this level. We really can't judge him on such a short timespan especially considering the totally new team he has put together. Look at the opening post of this thread and the predicted line-up, for example, and count just one player who was here last season (the youngster, Sean Shields)!

Howell will have more time to work on the side next summer and, with the club in much better shape, next season could be a completely different situation.

Right now, I'm totally behind the manager. He's clearly intelligent, thoughtful and deliberate in terms of his decisions. He definitely deserves a chance and we should get behind him in these still very early days!

[Canary Saint]

Oct 13, 2011 20:35:49 GMT @gaz said:

Oh and Canary please explain why you feel you are being denied the right of reply?

Personally I do not feel that I am being denied the right to reply. The point I was trying to make was that sometimes if the club is not seen in the best light there can be quite a 'robust' response.

On reflection, I guess that a 'robust' response is what a debate is all about, so hoisted by my own petard there

As for the Manager I haven't given up on him and all may yet come good in the end. It just that at the moment (in my opinion) the signs are not good.

[allsaints]

Preparations for this season were far from ideal and Howell had very little time to build a totally new side to compete at this level. We really can't judge him on such a short timespan especially considering the totally new team he has put together

Read more: saintschat.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=964#ixzz1amLZAJtE

It might be a NEW St Albans team , but Howell , Charlery, Jupp , Jinadu , Watts , Ijaha , Hart & Walker were all at Harrow Boro together last season. Plus Bent & Haule are ex Harrow too. I wonder if Howell thinks he has strengthened his team this season.

[Norman7Saints]

There was big improvement against bedford on tuesday even though we conceded 2 sloppy goals,
we seemed to play more as a team bakare and walker looked very dangerous i just think we need that win to bring us more confidence! i think we will tomorrow and hopefully this will kickstart our season!
COYS!