Bedford Updates

[nathanr999]

I did overheard a conversation that suggested that Taylor had left the club. No idea if true but can see of he wanted games he might not get many hear. We are short of two strikers and 1 of 2 tall midfielders and maybe another centre half. We are bullied off the ball as teams seem bigger and uglier vs what we put out. Early days but some gaps that need filling pronto. Pretty pretty is mid table at best I think.

[410viawednesbury]

If a goalkeeper has no-one to push him in training then the goalkeeper becomes 'secure' in the knowledge that he's first choice come match day. I'd have thought that for backup a goalkeeper out of the youth academy would have been a route to go down, in my opinion.

[Dazzie76]

Was told also taylor had left club after being sub in a friendly. Can't really comment as on holiday but I will

If Bedford stay up I will be surprised.
Why are we so low on players especially strikers upto this level.

[Rich]

Only my second 'game' of season due to hols (Solihull the other) and can say not been impressed with either performance.
Cant see to much improvement on last years squad and we are crying out for Hayward in the middle.
As has been said the bench strength is embarrassing and wonder what happened to recruitment during the Summer.
With Manning and possibly Flanagan out next week how many subs will we have??
Hate to say it but at present I see a long season ahead unless things change asap with some signings in key positions

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Saturday, 17th August 2024

Halesowen Town 1 Bedford Town 4

Halesowen crashed to a heavy 4-1 defeat in a listless display against recently promoted Bedford at the Grove, writes DJ.

Yeltz manager Russ Penn put a brave face on the torrid afternoon. “Firstly, Reece Flanagan has been taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder. In football I’ve learnt to expect the unexpected. We were miles off it today, I didn’t see that coming and I have to take the blame. Bedford were well organised but we let that happen. Previously we’ve been well organised, hard to beat with cohesion but we were anything but that today. We lacked leadership, confidence and energy. We will now reflect on a tough week, dust ourselves down and go again.”

The Eagles made a perfect start and stunned the home crowd by taking the lead with the first move of the game when Leon LOBJOIT collected Rob Hall’s 2nd minute free-kick and struck past Halesowen goalkeeper Dan Platt.

Halesowen’s first attempt from Kieren Donnelly was collected easily by goalkeeper Oliver Bosworth after nine minutes and McKauley Manning volleyed at Bosworth two minutes later. Bedford’s Lewis Green then went close in an overhead tussle with Platt from an 18th minute long throw-in.

Lack-lustre Halesowen mustered a couple of corners in the 36th minute with substitute Ben Cassidy firing at Bosworth from long range but Bedford looked quite comfortable all afternoon with the Yeltz toothless up front and slapdash in defence.

The Eagles doubled their lead four minutes before the interval when Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo recycled a cleared throw-in into the danger area and Ryan BLAKE reacted quickly to smack the ball past Platt.

Donnelly blazed over the bar for Halesowen at the start of the second half but it was Bedford who missed an even better chance after 51 minutes when Soulya-Osekanongo missed a free header in front of goal.

The Yeltz pulled a 54th minute goal back to fleetingly give hope when substitute Adi YUSSUF headed home directly from Conor Tee’s cross after Cassidy advanced down the left.

But Bedford soon re-asserted their dominance with a third goal in simple fashion when Blake squared from the right for unmarked LOBJOIT to claim his brace in space in the 63rd minute.

Ryan Wollacott headed Tee’s 72nd minute free-kick over the bar but there was no way back for second-best Halesowen and Bedford should’ve added a fourth goal in the 85th minute when substitute Connor Tomlinson cut the ball back for substitute Max Rosner in front of goal but his weak effort was saved by Platt. Bosworth then saved a curling 20 yard effort from Tee in the 86th minute.

The Eagles soared into a 4-1 lead and their first win of the season when BLAKE turned Cassidy down the left of the area and fired past Platt.

Jak Hickman’s 89th minute deep cross almost caught out Bedford goalkeeper Bosworth at his far post at the end of a sorry afternoon for the Yeltz.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Jak Hickman, Reece Mitchell (Abdillahie Yussuf 46), Ryan Wollacott, Ryan Wynter (c), Nat Kelly, Todd Parker (Ryan Boothe 78), Reece Flanagan (Ben Cassidy 29), Kieren Donnelly, Conor Tee, McKauley Manning. Subs Not Used: Luke Postle, Lewis Solly.

Bedford Town: Oliver Bosworth; Lewis Green (Max Rosner 55), Samuel Brown, Robert Howard (Joshua Flanagan 63), Carl Mensah (c), Kyle Connolly (Zaide Took-Okley 64), Elliot Simmons, Robert Hall (Connor Tomlinson 73), Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo, Leon Lobjoit (Joshua Boorn 89), Ryan Blake.

Referee: Jason Porter Attendance: 902
Booked: Lobjoit (53), Soulya-Osekanongo (71), J. Flanagan (90+5)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by Spencer Signs: Conor Tee

[andy]

Yeah, Flanagan's injury looked well painful. Hope the lad's ok.

[KenR]

Being as Penn has now been here for 6 months and has not signed a goalscoring, big centre forward is PATHETIC management. The side is crying out for two useful strikers as all supporters can see, so why can't Penn , and yet he says he signed the five players that he wanted which amounts to a mixture of defensive players and a has been forward.

[TractionJackson]

Hey lads I'm sure under Smith we'd have lost 6-1 for sure.

How about that progression. So tough to beat. The Shed so strong and behind the team.

This is the dream we all had 6 months ago eh?

[drummyb]

3 games in. That is all. Paul Smith's time is done for good reason.

[TractionJackson]

You know, I agree.

i am trying my best to move on but then some people bring him up after the Monday game so I don't care, you all need to drink the medicine.

Anyone think our squad is better than the squad we had this time last year?