Bedfordshire's U16s travelled to Newmarket Town FC in their opening fixture of the East Anglian Counties Championship campaign and put in an excellent performance all over the park to come away with a 2-2 draw.
Bedfordshire almost took the lead in the opening 4 minutes, Harry Glover picking the ball and and finding Sam Burke in the box but the Suffolk keeper pulled off a great save to keep the ball out. The Bedfordshire defence were then caught out with a long ball up the middle of the park which the Suffolk striker picked up and fired past George Darlow in the Beds goal. The Bedfordshire side kept the heads up though and continued to trouble the Suffolk back line, Jamie Black went on a mazy run and hit a long range effort just wide of the post before Bedfordshire drew level on 17 minutes. The Suffolk goalkeeper pulled off another excellent save from a Harry Glover header to give Beds a corner kick which was floated into the box by Mahmut Caglar perfectly onto the head of Harry Glover once again and this time he found the back of net.
Suffolk then had a good 5 minutes starting off with a ball in behind the Beds defence which looked to have sent the Suffolk striker clear but Tim Larrier did well to get back and snuff out the danger. Suffolk then got in Behind the Beds defence again but George Darlow did well to get off his line and narrow the angle and the striker shot wide. The game was flowing from end to end and on 23 minutes Jamie Black's deep cross was met on the volley by Sam Burke but he couldn't quite get a proper connection on his shot. Mahmut Caglar then showed some a great touch bring a high ball down and then turned and hit a shot on the half volley just over the bar.
It was Suffolk's turn to test the Beds defence again and a good ball down the left allowed their winger to find the Suffolk striker in the box but he put his shot wide. Mahmut Caglar then won a free kick 40 yards from the Suffolk goal and tried his luck but his shot was over the bar. 5 minutes before half time and Suffolk had a great chance to take the lead once again when the striker met a cross unchallenged but he header over. Bedfordshire then went up the other end and forced a corner, Mahmut Caglar again putting in a dangerous ball which Jamie Black was inches away from getting the touch it needed to go in. Suffolk ended the game with another chance that was thwarted by George Darlow.
At half time Bedfordshire made 3 changes, Cody O'Neill replaced Joe Shanley in Midfield, Ryan Moynihan replaced Tim Larrier at Centre Back and Alistair Beedie replaced Sam Burke on the wing. Bedfordshire really took the game to Suffolk in the second half with the Suffolk keeper pulling off a number of excellent saves to keep Suffolk in the game. Inside the opening 3 minutes Cody O'Neill found Mahmut Caglar in the Suffolk box and his shot was well saved by the Suffolk keeper and as Harry Glover look certain to score the keeper somehow recover to keep out his shot as well. 4 minutes later and Alistair Beedie beat the Suffolk full back down the left and found Jamie Black in the box, his shot hit Harry Glover and was goal bound until the Suffolk keeper pulled off another excellent save to keep the scores level.
Suffolk launched their first attack of the second half on 54 with a quick counter and a dangerous ball right across the box brought them a corner but George Darlow claimed well. Some great battling work from Harry Glover won the ball back for Beds and he sent Mahmut Caglar through but he pulled his shot wide. Bedfordshire were soon back on the attack thought with Caglar and Glover linking up again only for the Suffolk keeper to deny Beds once again and Jamie Black following up could get enough power in his shot to trouble the keeper.
Bedfordshire then took the lead on the hour direct from a free kick. Cody O'Neill stepped up the hit a powerful shot underneath the wall and the keeper this time couldn’t keep the ball out. Suffolk were level within 2 minutes, the Beds defence could fully clear a Suffolk cross and when the ball was put in again the Suffolk striker's shot was well saved by George Darlow but it went straight to another Suffolk player and he tapped home for 2-2. In was harsh on Bedfordshire who had dominated the second half and the defence had looked very solid up to that point having been well marshalled by Rob Norman.
Bedfordshire went out in search of a deserved third with Cody O'Neill and Alistair Beedie seeing shots go just over the bar before Sam Burke was brought back into the action to replace Jamie Black and Tim Larrier replaced Charlie Reynsford. With 10 minutes to go Caglar and Glover linked up once again only for the Suffolk keeper to save well before Caglar was involved again finding Beedie in the Suffolk box who's shot hit the post bounced out hit the keeper and then went out for a corner. Joe Shanley replaced Xavi Sweeney for the final 8 minutes and he took the corner which found Cody O'Neill who header found the angle of post and bar with the keeper well beaten.
A Mahmut Caglar free kick with 3 minutes to go was met by Rob Norman but his header was saved by the Suffolk keeper. Beds then perhaps had their best chance of the half when a long kick from George Darlow beat the Suffolk defence and Glover raced clear but fired straight at the Suffolk goalkeeper. With the final chance of the game Suffolk almost nicked all 3 points but George Darlow pulled off an excellent save to ensure Beds at least got a point out of the game.
A superb dominant second half performance from Bedfordshire almost brought home all 3 points but they'll be happy to get points on the board from the opening game with the next fixture scheduled for Sunday 18th December away to Cambridgeshire at Cambridge City FC.
Bedfordshire: George Darlow, Charlie Reynsford (both Stotfold), Tim Larrier (Bedford Town FC Eagles), Xavi Sweeney, Rob Norman (both Barton Rovers), Kieran Brasier (Stotfold), Sam Burke (Barton Rovers), Joe Shanley, Harry Glover (both Stotfold), Mahmut Caglar, Jamie Black (both Barton Rovers).
Subs: Alistair Beedie (Stotfold), Conor Dobbs (Bedford Town FC Eagles), Ryan Moyihan and Cody O'Neil (both Barton Rovers)
Goals: Harry Glover 17', Cody O'Neill 60'
Subs made: O'Neill for Shanley (HT), Beedie for Burke (HT), Moynihan for Larrier (HT), Burke for Black (67'), Larrier for Reynsford (67'), Shanley for Sweeney (72')