Bedford too strong for Dynamo in FA Trophy
FA TROPHY THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO 1 BEDFORD 3 LOUGHBOROUGH Dynamo’s impressive eight-match unbeaten run came to end as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Bedford Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon.
Tristan Matthews put The Moes ahead early on with a smart finish, but the Eagles turned the game on its head to claim the victory at Nanpantan Sports Ground and knock the home side out of the competition at the Third Qualifying Round stage.
Dynamo manager Lee Attenborough made two changes to his team from the success over Wisbech, as Evan Garnett came in for Karl Demidh up front, while Ruben Rabstein replaced Jay Alexander in net.
The visitors began the brighter of the two sides and almost opened the scoring within four minutes. Connor Tomlinson’s cross found Tom Hitchcock in acres of space at the back post but he somehow steered an effort wide of the target from close range.
But it was Dynamo who took the lead on 13 minutes against the run of play. A neat passing move saw Evan Garnett slip in Alex Steadman who picked out Matthews in the middle and he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner for his third goal of the campaign.
Bedford started to dominate after the opener and controlled possession while creating a number of chances in the meantime. Will Summerfield stung the palms of goalkeeper Ruben Rabstein, before Tomlinson saw a powerful effort well blocked by Carl Sibson.
The best opportunity which wasn’t taken fell to Matt Harriott as he ran on to Drew Richardon’s pass down the right flank before blazing a shot over the crossbar.
It was only a matter of time before Bedford would score but it took a spectacular strike for them to get onto level terms. Danny Setchell created half a yard of space before hitting an effort from distance which flew into the top corner, leaving Rabstein with little chance.
Dynamo thought they’d gone back in front moments before the break as Matthews’ cross was met by Burrows who headed it home but the goal was ruled out for offside, to the disbelief of the home faithful, as the teams went in level at half-time.
The second period started cagey as both sides struggled to get a foothold on the contest, but it was the visitors who looked the most threatening. They did, however, take the lead eight minutes after the interval as left-back Summerfield drove into the box before hammering a shot into the back of the net.
Summerfield was heavily involved as Bedford had a golden opportunity to double their advantage when he was brought down inside the penalty area. Hitchcock stepped up and converted the spot-kick into the bottom right corner, sending Rabstein the wrong way in the meantime.
Loughborough’s response to the third goal was a good one and they pushed in an attempt to pull one back. Matthews went close as his effort took a wicked deflection before striking the outside of the post, before Gomes also hit the woodwork when his low shot looked to be nestling in the corner but it crashed off the upright and away to safety.
Although it was a disappointing day for The Moes, they should take heart from the unbeaten run they went on prior to the game, which was the club’s best start to a league season in six years, while also reaching the joint-furthest stage of the Trophy in their history.