Moncur penalty consigns Boro to disappointing home defeat

Alex Brown returned to the side after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, and Leeds United loanee Harvey Vincent was given a start after impressing from the bench on his debut last week, while Bedford gave a debut to Latvian U21s international winger Danny Anisjko, on loan from Chesterfield.

Brown, who had a fine game for Boro, won possession and passed forward to Rio Allan who raced into the area, but was tackled by Alfie Thornett, and it was Bedford who took control of the game.

Will Thornton’s tackle halted a run from George Moncur, then Thornton blocked a shot from David Hicks, who drilled the rebound wide.

Moncur fired a free-kick into Boro’s four-man wall, but they took the lead from another 20-yard free-kick, when Joe Payne’s low shot beat the wall and nestled in the bottom left corner.

David Hicks screwed a half-volley wide, but Boro then enjoyed a good spell. A nice passing move between Jake Hull, Alex Wiles, Allan and Luke Hall sent Brown charging into the box, but his cross drifted over the bar, and Vincent teed-up Allan, but Hicks slid in to tackle before he could shoot.

A tactical switch from boss Jono Greening saw Vincent and Allan swap wings, with the Leeds loanee showing some neat touches on the left, and Boro equalised when a Jack Waldron corner found skipper Thornton, who directed his header into the top left corner.

Colville passed to Vincent, whose cross was cleared towards Alex Purver Hannan, who lashed a shot narrowly over, then Bedford had another free-kick, but this time Payne’s low shot was held by Boro keeper Ryan Whitley, who also got down quickly to smother a shot from Lewis Franklin.

Just before the interval Hall took a nasty knock from a challenge by T’Shane Gallimore, and he was replaced by Mo Fadera for the second half.

Despite the miserable weather, the second half was entertaining and competitive, with some good passing football from both teams, and a number of strong, physical challenges.

Thornton tackled Hicks when he charged forward for Bedford, then Tarik Gidaree also burst clear, but Whitley did well to save with his legs.

A good Boro move saw Fadera chest down to the excellent Wiles, who laid off for Waldron, whose shot was deflected wide by Franklin, and the resulting corner from Luca Colville curled against the top of the bar. Waldron then floated over a free kick, and Fadera headed wide under pressure.

Boro now had a strong wind at their backs, but Bedford, backed by a noisy band of fans, were still dangerous going forward, with Whitley pushing wide shots from both Moncur and Hicks.

Boro went close when Fadera jinked past a defender but his shot was tipped over by keeper Laurie Walker, who also dived to push away a fierce low shot from Wiles.

Bedford broke from defence when a Hicks through-ball fell to Franklin who was brought down by Thornton in the box, and Moncur blasted the spot kick into the bottom right corner to restore their lead.

Whitley parried a Ben Weyman shot and Gallimore fired wide. Boro piled forward in the latter stages, Thornton shot wide on the turn, a Kieran Weledji ball into a crowded goalmouth was grabbed by the keeper, and Fadera had a shot blocked by Sonnie Davis, as Bedford held on for the three points.

BORO: Whitley, Waldron (Weledji 75), Brown, Hull, Thornton (c), Purver, Hall (Fadera 46), Vincent (Tear 75), Allan, Wiles, Colville unused subs- Maloney, Stuttard, Bradshaw.

BEDFORD: Walker, Payne, Castiglione, Franklin, Evans (Duko 73), Anisjko (Weyman 77), Moncur (Davis 87), Gidaree, Gallimore, Hicks, Thornett unused subs- Flahavan(GK), Wilkinson, Abimbola.

REFEREE: Tom Wilson

BORO GOAL: Will Thornton 28

BEDFORD GOALS: Joe Payne 14, George Moncur 80 (pen)

GOAL ATTEMPTS: BORO 9 (3 on target) BEDFORD TOWN 13 (8 on target)

YELLOW CARDS: Luke Hall, Jake Hull, Alex Wiles (Boro), Reece Evans, Alfie Thornett, T’Sharne Gallimore (Bedford)

BORO MAN OF MATCH: Alex Wiles

ATTENDANCE: 1,360 (74 away)