MATCH REPORT | Bedford Town (A)

Bedford 0 Hemel Hempstead Town 1

Match report by Allan Mitchell

Hemel just edged the penultimate pre season friendly against newly promoted Bedford, managed by our former boss Lee Bircham who will compete in the National League North this coming campaign 

It proved to be an excellent work out for Lee Allinson's side once again and its now four wins on the bounce for The Tudors.

It’s been a busy schedule which has seen the new look squad start to gel and every player has been getting some much needed game time with the new season fast approaching. The first half saw both sides create chances and it was ex St Albans striker Shaun Jeffers who had the first decent effort for Bedford after just two minutes when he was put through on goal but his shot cleared the bar.

Mauro Vilhete forced a good one handed save out of the Bedford keeper after 12 minutes and Hemel had the ball in the net just past the half hour mark when Jordan Thompson headed home a George Williams free kick but he was deemed just offside.

It was proving to be a competitive battle with both sides picking up a booking and chances became few and far between in the second period with the usual multi substitutions affecting the flow of the game somewhat but it’s all about minutes on the pitch and it was good to see Charlie Rowan making his first appearance in a Tudors shirt.

The visitors pushed for a winner as the clock ticked down and Thompson had another header well saved in the 76th minute when he met a Jake Gray corner, there was a bit of a goalmouth scramble before the ball was cleared.

Finley finds his feet! | Photo by Jemma Sear

They finally broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when a run and pull back down the right was superbly finished by Finlay Wilkinson who struck the ball home for his first goal in a red shirt and it proved to be enough on the night and sets us up nicely for the final pre season game on Saturday against Luton Town U21’s at the Focus Community Arena, kick off at 1 pm.