Childs spot shot downs Cantebury
BEDFORD HOCKEY CLUB LADIES 2 CANTERBURY 1
East Premier
Bedford survived a nervy last ten minutes to make it four league victories on the bounce with a 2-1 success over second-placed Canterbury at Chester Road courtesy of goals from Yvette Van Yperen and Becky Childs.
Bedford made just one change from the previous match with Katherine Winger returning to the midfield anchor role and Jenna Maclaren missing out.
After losing to Canterbury earlier in the season and having come off the back of a win against leaders Bromley and Beckenham, Bedford knew they would be in for a tough match but made a positive start with some good early midfield possession.
Defensively, Bedford were strong throughout and Elli Priston at centre back made some very impressive tackles and interceptions while going forward, the hosts played with pace and good intensity but often the final pass was lacking in quality and chances were not clear-cut.
Bedford were the dominant force however and in a quick break Kate Costin put Kelly Bingham through on goal but the keeper came out and made a point blank save, keeping the ball blocked off under her pads and leaving the Maroons appealing for a flick, but the umpire instead awarded a short corner.
Fortunately, justice was done as Van Yperen dodged around the two Canterbury runners and arrowed a brilliant shot into the corner to give Bedford the lead.
They pushed for a second with Fran Lee and Sherri Skene the architects of much of Bedford's good play but the ball didn't fall kindly for the forwards in the circle, giving the Chester Road side a narrow half time lead.
Bedford knew they needed to continue to press and deny their visitors the ball and during a stop-start second half, again it was the team in maroon who carried the greater goal threat.
Connie Mason had a shot cleared off the line early on and Canterbury's numbers were reduced for 10 minutes after a heavy-handed foul on player-of-the-match Priston.
Bedford continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession but Canterbury were proving to be a difficult unit to break down with Costin, Mason, Childs and Skene all denied by their in-form keeper.
Midway through the half Bedford got their two-goal cushion as Childs coolly converted from the spot after Nat Norford was taken out by the Canterbury goalkeeper.
There were yet more breaks in the play with a nasty head injury to one of the opposition, and this didn't help the Bedford passing game.
With 10 minutes on the clock Canterbury gave themselves a glimmer of hope as their forward was afforded space in the D and struck a neat shot into the bottom left hand corner.
Bedford looked nervy in the final minutes but good defending from Sarah Walsh and SJ Darrington saw the home side to a deserved victory which now leaves them just two points behind Canterbury as the league hots up. On Saturday, Bedford travel to Colchester hoping to further extend their winning run.
