Bedworth United 2–4 Anstey Nomads
The club located to the north of Coventry has a great setup and a friendly fanbase- but the fight against relegation looks set to go down to the wire.
March had arrived in the West Midlands, and the sun was shining as I boarded a train at Rugby station bound for Coventry. The temperature was far from feeling spring-like, with it being only a few degrees above zero. Bedworth, a town located between Coventry and Nuneaton, was my destination to take in a match from the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division. Leicester side and playoff-chasing Anstey Nomads were the visitors.
The train from Coventry to Bedworth takes around 15 minutes, stopping at the Coventry Building Society stop on the way. I got off and the sun continued to shine, as I made my way up the high street where some Nomads fans were having a sing-song outside a pub which I would soon be in for a pint.
The Nomads' songs faded as I went in and sat down with my drink. On the wall of the pub was the Bedworth town motto ‘We Thrive On Industry’, which is also on the football club badge. The town was known for coal mining and manufacturing, so this motto is very fitting.
With 20 minutes to go until kick-off, I made my way further up the high street. The Oval is located down a side street, and entry is £10 through the turnstile either with cash or card. A large clubhouse is located on the opposite side of the ground to the main stand, and I got myself a pint ahead of kick-off.
Bedworth need points to maintain a gap above the relegation zone, whilst the Nomads have a playoff spot in their sights. The game started like one where both teams had big hopes. It was the visitors who broke the deadlock with less than 10 minutes gone.
A quick move from Anstey played Jacob Fenton in on goal, and the striker had plenty in his shot to get it past Liam O’Brien in the home goal. Bedworth had been opened up easily, but they didn’t need to wait too long for the leveller.
Former Leicester City goalkeeper Conrad Logan was between the sticks for Anstey, but his save only pushed the ball back into danger and George Dunkley was there to score. A pulsating opening 20 minutes, and there was plenty more to come.
I watched on as both sides went in search of the third goal, and it was the relegation-threatened hosts who went into halftime in the lead. A set piece into the box was headed into the back of the net by Elliott Parrott, and Bedworth were half way to a vital three points.
I made another visit to the bar at halftime and had a wander around to look at fixture lists that were placed on the walls. Nuneaton Borough are currently playing at The Oval, meaning that Bedworth locals have had twice the first-team football to enjoy this season, although it would have been nicer in different circumstances.
The second half started and with fresh pint in hand, the temperature dropped further as the sun started to drop behind the clubhouse. Anstey heads hadn’t dropped, and attacking the goal to my left they had the away contingent next to them.
It was two goals either side of the hour mark from the Nomads that saw them take the match away from Bedworth. A rebound finish from Leo Brown put the visitors back on level terms, and they seemed to only get better. With 20 minutes remaining Sam Beaver fired in past O’Brien at his near post and embraced the travelling fans. There was a sense that the Nomads weren’t going to let the lead slip again, and the travelling Leicestershire faithful watched on as Fenton notched his second and Anetsy’s fourth.
The result moved the Nomads back into the playoff spots, and luckily results elsewhere were kind on Bedworth. ‘You’re going down with the Rugby’ taunted the Nomads fans, and the home team welcome Rugby Town on Easter Monday in a game that could shape up to decide who stays up and who goes down.
I left The Oval having had a great day. £10, good beer, and six goals were another reminder of how enjoyable and affordable non-league football is. Bedworth have enough about them to stay up, and Anstey will be a tough opponent for anyone in the playoffs.
