Kempston Rovers
Matches
Sat 22 Feb 2020  ·  Division One Central
Bedford Town
C Tomlinson (38'), (93')
2
0
Kempston Rovers
Kempston Rovers
Derby Day Disappointment

Derby Day Disappointment

Matthew Wilmot22 Feb 2020 - 20:59
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https://www.kempstonrovers.org

Kempston beaten by Bedford

Rovers succumbed to their eighth defeat in nine since Christmas at the hands of neighbours Bedford Town in a low key local derby clash at The Eyrie.

The opening stages of the game were the archetypal ‘blood and thunder’ of what derby games typically evoke within the souls of all connected with football. An early flash point coming in the twentieth minute when returning Rovers keeper Carl Knox tangled with a Bedford forward he was convinced had gone to ground easily. He was shown a yellow card for his troubles. Moments later, Kempston had their only real opportunity of the half, Andrew Phillips put clean through on goal, rounded Schmid and was about to pull the trigger when his ankles were taken from beneath him by the arms of the debutant keeper. Incredulously, the referee booked Phillips for diving and the clear and obvious penalty was denied. Bedford began to turn the screw and eventually had the reward that their pressure had deserved seven minutes before half time. Connor Tomlinson firing across goal from distance into the corner of the net after being given too much time on and space on the ball.

The second half mirrored the first in terms of quality and direction of play, with the hosts comfortably holding Kempston at bay without seriously threatening to kill the game off. However, in stoppage time, with Kempston looking to create the chance of an unlikely point, Bedford struck the killer blow, an initial effort from the ever dangerous Tomlinson, denied by Knox, span up into the air and caused all kinds of confusion on the goal line between two defenders and ex-Rovers front man Newman saw the ball bundled over the line. The goal was credited to Tomlinson.

The result picks Bedford out of their recent slump and completes their first ever league double over Kempston, but the thirteen point gap to the play-offs looks insurmountable in the remaining games. Rovers sit ever more uncomfortably at the wrong end of the table having collected only four points from the last twelve games. Mercifully, thanks to a restructure of the leagues in the coming summer, only the bottom placed club need to fear the drop this season. Kempston currently sit thirteen points clear of Wantage Town with eleven games to go.
Next up for Kempston is Corby Town, looking to avenge the shock defeat that Rovers inflicted on them back in November to end their unbeaten start to the season.

Match details

Match date

Sat 22 Feb 2020

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

341

Competition

Division One Central

League position

15
Bedford Town
19
Kempston Rovers
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

KRFC Sponsor - Carers in Bedfordshire
KRFC Sponsor - Siamo Group
Kempston Rovers FC Sponsor - AMF Services
KRFC Sponsor - Box Clever
KRFC Sponsor - Hatters Home & Style
Kempston Rovers FC Sponsor - Eva Blake Handcraft
KRFC Away Shirt Sponsor - Queensbury
KRFC Sponsor - Hannah Solicitors
KRFC Sponsor - Branding by RM
KRFC Sponsor - Kempston Calling
KRFC Sponsor - Bedford Glass Windows & Doors
KRFC Sponsor - Dynamite
KRFC Sponsor - Pro-Assist
KRFC Sponsor - Just 4 Keepers
KRFC Sponsor - Sams Homecare
KRFC Sponsor - East Area Boxing Academy
Kempston Rovers FC Sponsor - JB Plastering
Kempston Rovers FC Sponsor - The Meat Shop
KRFC Sponsor - Prestige Design & Workwear
Kempston Rovers FC Home Shirt Sponsor - Kingsley Garage
KRFC Home Shirt Sponsor - BWS Windows