Boro fight back for final-day draw at Bedford to seal play-off spot

An entertaining 1-1 draw at Bedford Town on the final day of the National League North season, saw both teams achieve their pre-match objective, as Boro secured a play-off spot at Buxton on Tuesday night, and the hosts avoided relegation.

A large away following, many in fancy dress, contributed to Bedford’s biggest crowd of the season, producing a happy, carnival atmosphere on a glorious afternoon.

Boro defender Kieran Weledji and a Seadogs fan are all smiles after their 1-1 draw at Bedford Town took them into the National League North play-offs. Photo by Wandering Photography

placeholder image — Boro defender Kieran Weledji and a Seadogs fan are all smiles after their 1-1 draw at Bedford Town took them into the National League North play-offs. Photo by Wandering Photography

Jono Greening’s side dominated the early stages of the National League North encounter, hitting the woodwork within 70 seconds, when Alex Brown and Luca Colville worked the ball down the left, Colville passed inside to Harry Green, and his shot looped up off Ben Nugent and crashed against the bar, Will Thornton glancing his header wide from the resulting corner from Colville.

Alex Brown then dinked a shot just over, before Bedford’s first attack saw skipper Tyrone Marsh fire into the chest of Ryan Whitley.

Rio Allan on the attack for Boro at Bedford Town on the final day of the league season. Photo by Wandering Photography

Boro again hit the woodwork on 14 minutes, when the outstanding Alex Wiles fed Rio Allan wide right, he cut inside and his low shot deflected off a defender and bounced against the bar.

A lovely passing move involving Wiles, Green, Allan and Colville ended with Greg Sandiford blocking a fierce Green shot, then an Alex Brown strike was blocked by Ryan Doherty.

Josh Castiglione twice raced forward for Bedford, firing narrowly wide, and being halted by Thornton’s sliding tackle, then Castligione was back in defence to block a Colville shot just before the interval.

The second half was evenly contested, both sides putting some good moves together on the superb 4G surface, but both defences were solid.

Boro fans cheer their team on at Bedford. Wandering Photography

Wiles and Alex Purver were excellent in the middle for Boro and keeper Whitley and centre-back pair Thornton and Jake Hull won all the high balls.

Bedford had a spell on top, T’Shane Gallimore fired wide and Alex Brown tackled Castligione in the area, before they went ahead on 58 minutes when a cross from the right was headed home by Sam Brown at the back post.

Boro responded quickly, Allan and Colville played a one-two, with Allan’s shot striking the arm of Doherty, but penalty appeals were ignored, however they were level just two minutes later when Ste Walker passed to Wiles, who squared inside for Allan to clinically fire into the bottom right corner.

Colville then laid off to Lewis Maloney who blazed over, and an intricate passing move between Purver, Maloney, Wiles and Walker ended with Wiles’ shot being deflected over by Greg Taylor.

Rio Allan levels for Boro at Bedford Town. Photo by Wandering Photography

Hull tackled Callum Ebanks when he charged forward for Bedford, and in late Boro attacks, a Kieran Weledji shot was blocked by Sam Brown, and a Purver strike was charged down by Ebanks.

BEDFORD - Ashmore, S.Brown, Castiglione, Gallimore (Gyamfi 75) (L.Green 80), Marsh (c) (Ebanks 86), Jenkins, Doherty, Sandiford, E.Brown (Cole 37), Moncur (Taylor 75), Nugent, unused subs - Patmore (GK), Payne.

BORO - Whitley, Weledji, A.Brown, Hull, Thornton (c), Purver, Allan, Wiles, Walker (Bennett 86), H.Green (Maloney 60), Colville, unused subs - Duckworth, Waldron, Shehu.

REFEREE - Dan Baines.