Goals from Samson Hewett and Charlie Gordon were enough to earn Bedworth United all three points, winning 2-0 win against AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Bedworth started the better side and had two opportunities denied by the Rushden defence. Teddy Rowe and Matthew Shipman had shots well blocked that seemed goal bound.
Rushden’s first chance of the afternoon came from a freekick. Williams Russell’s left footed strike from 20 yards just drifted wide of the post.
Tarik Dallas had a long range strike that needed Will Highlands attention. The defenders curling effort was bending in the wind and Highland did well to save and hold on.
On the 30th minute, Bedworth were awarded a penalty. Samson Hewetts freekick was heading to the back post for Elliot Parrott but was elbowed by Joel Nketia and the referee awarded a penalty. Samson Hewett stepped and powerfully drilled the ball past keeper Dan Jezeph in the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 to the Greenbacks.
Rushden and Diamonds had a good chance from a corner right on the stroke of half time. Ollie Evans corner found Tejan Thomas in space but his volley from 12 yards out was sliced and went wide.
HALF TIME: Bedworth United 1-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden stated very brightly and came so close to equalising. A corner wasn’t dealt with properly and the ball found its way to Joel Nketiah, his shot from close range was brilliantly tipped over by Will Highland.
On the 65th minute, the Diamonds came within a whisker from levelling. There was scrappy play outside the box and Bedworth’s struggled to clear as the ball made its way wide to Joziah Barnett, he had space to lash his shot at goal, but just went wide.
Bedworth had their first real chance of the second had. Hewetts corner wasn’t dealt flicked on by Parrott and Calum Flanagan was there to head in at the back post but his header deflected just wide.
And on the 75th minute Bedworth doubled their lead after a brilliant sweeping move. Charlie Gordon switched the ball to Samson Hewett, he waited for Ben Blakely to go on the overlap, and delivered a great pass to Matthew Shipmen, his shot was blocked into the path of Charlie Gordon and he side footed past the keeper to make it 2-0.
The Greenbacks really should have made it 3-0 minutes later. Samson Hewett did brilliantly twist and turn his man and delivered a great cross that found Max Ngbeken-Itota free but he couldn’t keep his header on target from 6 yards.
Ollie Evans who was the visitors best player, forced Williams Highland into a reaction save. Evans dribbled past a couple of players before firing his shot at goal but Highland saw it late but pushed away from danger.
But despite a late push from the visitors, Bedworth held on to another crucial victory in the fight against relegation.
FULL TIME: Bedworth United 2-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Starting line up:
Highland, Blakely, Mooney, Parrott(Dunkley) Craven, Flanagan, Hewett, Barry, Shipman(Monaghan), Rowe(Ngbeken-Itota), Gordon
Attendance: 308
