A convincing win by The Eagles brings Sporting's unbeaten league run to an end but it could have been a different story had The Rouslers converted a few chances in the first half.

With Jack Wilson absent, Louis Hall made his debut at left-back with Tom Taylor and Jake Heath on the bench for the first time.
In the bright sunshine, the home side looked sharper in the early stages with Gavin Hoyte heading over the bar and Danny Morris heading away a half-volley from Brett Longden.

However, Sporting gradually eased themselves into the game and pretty much dominated proceedings for much of the first half. Jason Cowley carved out the best chances going wide on 10 minutes, putting a couple of curved shots over the bar 11 minutes later then forcing Niall Cooper into a low save just after that. John Pykett also got into the action when his fine delivery was scrambled off the line moments later.

At the other end, the away side survived a penalty appeal when Hall body checked Jordan Jarrold but referee Mr Marin signalled no foul.

Back up to the other end a minute later and Sporting had their best chance to date when Cowley slammed Josh Quaynor's corner against the angle and if that was not enough, Richard Gregory's low shot rattled the post a minute later.

As things so often happen, Sporting were punished for their rotten luck on the 39th minute when Craig Daniel robbed Gregory just inside the Bedford half; he raced up field and sent a fine pass into the box that Paul Benson toe-poked home a fraction of second before Craig Jones could get to the ball.

Then with three minutes of the half remaining, Sporting conceded a corner that they then failed to clear with a loose ball finding its way to Dean Dummett who found a gap through a packed goal area into the Sporting net for his team's second.

For the second half, Bedford made it plain that they were not going to simply defend their lead and continued taking the game to Sporting. Dan Crane in goal for The Rouslers was called into action three times in quick succession before Sporting finally had a chance of their own when Aaron Roberts headed a free kick over the bar. But with Sporting pushing forward, they left themselves vulnerable at the back and Osei took advantage on the 61st minute when he received a great pass just inside the Sporting half, then after outpacing Hall down the right flank coolly slid the ball under the advancing Crane for Bedford's number three.

More was to come fifteen minutes later when in similar circumstances, Eagles' substitute Nathan Frater picked up the ball just inside the Bromsgrove half and raced to the Sporting goal comfortably easing past Crane.

Jason Cowley got one back for his team a couple of minutes later with a fine effort as to ran in a half circle in front of the box before finding a gap sending a curved shot past Copper.
However Bedford restored their lead just a minute later again with a fast break by Osei giving Crane no chance with from fifteen yards out.

Mr Marin generously played five minutes added time but even that was not enough to allow Sporting another chance, with the only effort coming from Quaynor whose weak shot was easily gathered Cooper.

So a bad day out for Sporting who were actually better than the scoreline suggests.

Bedford: Niall Cooper, Brett Longden, Jordan Jarrold, Dean Dummett, Ollie Swain, Gavin Hoyte (Capt.), Craig Daniel, Matt Hariott, Paul Benson (Nathan Frater 69 mins), Joel Gyasi (Conor Furlong 83 mins), Jermaine Osei (Dan Walker 80 mins).
Substitutes unused: Taylor Rhiney, Ben Ford.
Goals: Paul Benson (39 mins), Dean Dummett (42 mins), Jermaine Osei (61, 79 mins), Nathan Frater 76 mins).
Yellows: Joel Gyasi (45+1 mins), Nathan Frater (76 mins).

Sporting: Dan Crane, Aaron Roberts, Louis Hall, Nathan Hayward, Craig Jones (Capt.), Danny Morris, John Pykett (Charlie Dowd 58 mins), Josh Quaynor, Jason Cowley, Richard Gregory (Cameron Peters 69 mins), Will Shorrock (Jake Heath (90+4 mins).
Substitutes unused: Tom Taylor, Ashanti Pryce.
Goal: Jason Cowley (78 mins).
Cards: None

Referee: Mr J Marin.
Assistants: Mr J Panconi, Mr M Stetakovic

Crowd: 372
Weather: Warm, sunny

Sporting MoM: Jason Cowley

Reporter: Phil Baker

The Eagles produced a clinical display to see off league leaders and previously unbeaten, Bromsgrove Sporting, on Saturday afternoon. Bedford have just been on the end of one defeat in the last nine matches and won their third game in a row, after Saturday’s resounding 5-1 victory at the Eyrie. Jermaine Osei’s brace gave him four goals in two matches, whilst Paul Benson helped himself to another for the season, Dean Dummett scored a first ever league goal for Town, and also another first goal for Bedford came from recent signing, Nathan Frater.

The win propelled Bedford up three places to third, and just four points off Bromsgrove, and with a game in hand.

Jon Taylor was still without Kyle Forster (knee), Callum Donnelly (suspended), Mason Watkins-Clark (recovering from operation), and James Peters (ankle), and had more worries when Ashton Grant got injured in the warm up, and had to be replaced in the starting XI.

In the 1st half, Niall Cooper saw more action than his counterpart at the other end of the field, and as expected, Bromsgrove looked dangerous on attack. Early chances were few for either side. Gavin Hoyte headed wide, then had to use all his experience at the other end when Jason Cowley ran through to slide in and put the striker off. Joel Gyasi was given free rein to run at the visiting defence, and his pace gave both left and right backs a lot of trouble. Midway through the half, Cooper made two good saves, conceding a corner with each, as he got down to palm the ball away.

Just before the opening goal, Bromsgrove had a purple patch. Cowley headed against the post, following a free kick, then a minute or so later, John Pykett’s effort came off the foot of the right hand post, and travelled across goal before Brett Longden got enough of a clearance away.

At the other end, Gyasi was forever looking for a gap in the defence, and when found he played the ball through to whoever was going to receive it. This occasion, it was Osei, as he outpaced his marker, but played the ball into the oncoming Daniel Crane.

Although it was against the run of play, Gyasi started the move that led to the first Bedford goal, in the 39th minute. Taking control on the half way line, he threaded the ball through to Osei. A quick pass to Craig Daniel, became a well timed cross to the far post from the midfielder, and Benson came in to stab the ball home from close range.

The second Bedford goal wasn’t long in coming, as three minutes later a corner - given away by an awful back header from a defender - from the left went to Dean Dummett, and from inside the area, Dummett fired a shot into the top left corner of the net.

Speculation for the 2nd half was a defensive formation from the home side, but it was never going to happen. within five minutes of the restart, Crane had to be alert to push a Benson header away.

Osei then had another one on one with Crane, and although he rounded the ‘keeper, was too much at an angle and put his shot against the side netting.

Bedford went 3-0 up in the 61st minute. Gyasi won the ball on the halfway line before Matty Harriott took up the slack to play a ball over the defence. Osei muscled his marker away before electing to slot the ball past Crane.

Then came three goals in three minutes. The Eagles added a fourth in the 77th minute, and Gyasi was at the centre of the play again, as he released Nathan Frater through the hapless Bromsgrove defence. Frater ran to the edge of the area and with Crane having to come out, placed the ball past the ‘keeper and into the bottom right of the net. A minute later Cowley curled a shot past Cooper from the edge of the area, and another minute later, Frater turned provider for Osei, as the defence was breached again, and Crane having to try and make the goal as small as possible, was beaten by another well placed shot.

Report courtesy of Roger Worsley - Bedford Town