Three goals from Bedford Town proved the difference as Moors fell to defeat on a rainy afternoon at The New Eyrie.
The hosts opened the scoring through Reece Evans’ close range effort on the half hour mark, before Eno Nto doubled the score in similar fashion just before the break.
George Moncur made it three from the spot with 25 minutes to play, as Junior Mondal came off the bench to pull one back soon after.
The Eagles forced Brad James into a great stop on his first appearance of the season, as he did well to charge down and block Evan’s powerful strike from close range.
Another chance went the way of the hosts just a few minutes later as an inviting ball into the area found Not at the back post. His header, however, was routinely swept up by James.
Moors saw a penalty shout waved away 25 minutes in, when Jack Jenkins wriggled his way into the area before going down under pressure from Bedford defenders. Despite appeals, the referee gave a free-kick the way of the hosts, before putting Jenkins into the book for simulation.
Midfielder, Jack Young saw a half chance go begging when the ball dropped at his feet from a half cleared corner. the number 27 struck an effort but saw it closed down by an Eagle defender.
The hosts hit the front with 12 minutes of the first half to go, as Evans found the net. A good move from Bedford saw the ball find Junior Gyamfi on the left hand side, who slipped a low ball across goal and into the path of Evans, who thumped home from close range.
Both sides saw chances go to waste, as Richie Bennett’s hooked attempt cleared the crossbar, before Moncur’s free-kick at the other end met the same fate.
Bedford doubled their advantage deep into first half stoppage time, as Moncur recovered the ball on the edge of the Moors penalty area, before driving the by-line and playing a ball across goal, this time finding Nto, who made no mistake from close range.
Tommy Miller’s side looked to have started the second half more positively, as Rob Ramshaw saw an effort bobble just wide of the left post. However, worsening weather conditions forced the referee to suspend play from just over 15 minutes due to standing water on the playing surface.
The sides came back out to warm-up ahead of the restart with half an hour still left to play. Glen Taylor smashed a free-kick on goal with the first touch since the stoppage, but saw his effort stopped low by Laurie walker in the Bedford net.
Despite Moors’ second half pressure, it was Bedford who went on to find the next goal of the game, after a foul on Moncur inside the area saw the hosts awarded a penalty on 64 minutes. The number 10 stepped up and slotted the spot-kick away into the bottom right corner, sending James the wrong way.
Harry Smart’s side continued pushing the Moors defence, but neither Moncur’s well worked effort, nor Evans’ low driven strike found the net.
Moors pulled one back with 13 minutes to play as Substitute, Junior Mondal touched town a cross into the area from Rob Ramshaw, before smashing a strike beneath Walker and into the back of the net.
Both sides had chances just minutes after that, first for Glen Taylor who fired a first time effort over the bar. Eagles sub, Finley Wilkinson saw his strike deflected wide soon after.
Taylor forced Walker into a good save four minutes from time with a powerful effort from an awkward angle, before the number 9 saw a header smash off the crossbar on the 88th, concluding the action of the game
Moors will shift focus onto our imminent home fixture against Hednesford Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
Full time: Bedford Town 3 Moors 1
Moors: James, Whelan, Beals (Darcy 54), Pollock, Salkeld (Johnson 83), Jenkins, Ramshaw, Cantrill (Mondal 66), Murray, Bennett (Taylor 54), Marsh (Young 27)
Subs not used: Dolan, Dawson
Booked: Jenkins 25, Beals 38, Whelan 45,
Referee: Charles King
Attendance: 582
Written by Noah Betts