The Second Qualifying Round of this season’s Isuzu FA Vase competition was contested last weekend and your Reporting Team chose to visit the very local Middlesex derby between Bedfont Sports and Bedfont at the former club’s Bedfont Recreation Ground HQ, on Saturday, 21st September.    

Local derbies at senior level cannot possibly be more local than this one (matches between ground-sharing clubs excluded). Even the well-known proximity of the two Dundee clubs cannot match it. Tannadice and Dens Park are 170 yards apart, while Bedfont Rec and The Orchard, Bedfont’s HQ are adjacent to each other in Hatton Road.

The respective histories of the two Bedfont clubs are very much entwined. Bedfont FC was founded in 1900 and played in local leagues before graduating to the Middlesex League, playing on Bedfont Rec. The club developed the adjacent Orchard ground in the 1980s and joined the Combined Counties League in 1987.   However, financial problems forced the club to fold in 2010. The unconnected Bedfont Town and Feltham then used the ground for two seasons before Bedfont merged with the latter club and made a comeback as Bedfont and Feltham FC in 2012. At the end of the 2021-22 season, they reverted to the name of Bedfont FC.

Bedfont Sports FC was established in 2002 as a Saturday team for the successful Bedfont Sunday FC, who had previously broken away from the original Bedfont FC to play on Bedfont Rec. Bedfont Sunday made a significant impact in the FA Sunday Cup and had reached the final in season 1992-93, losing by the odd goal to Seymour. 

Over the years, thanks mainly to the stupendous efforts of founder, the late Dave Reader, the ground and the club has blossomed. Dave’s son Terry has successfully taken over his role, in collaboration with Chairman, former goalkeeper Craig Woodbridge and his committee. The ground now looks very different to the original Bedfont Rec, although it still retains the name. It has a capacity of 3000, much of which is under cover. The team joined the Hounslow & District League in 2003, won it immediately and progressed upwards through the Middlesex County and the Combined Counties Leagues to gain promotion to the Isthmian League South Central Division in 2018. They now run multiple teams, from u7s upwards.

Both clubs currently play in the Combined Counties League. Bedfont Sports are in the Premier Division North and Bedfont in Division One. 

Bedfont Sports beat Langley Sports 5-0 at home in the First Qualifying Round of the Competition, while Bedfont received a bye.

Sports recorded a fairly comfortable victory in this match. They went ahead through a penalty in the 10th minute and continued to dominate, adding to their score to lead 2-0 at the break. The home custodian saw very little action in the first 45 minutes. Bedfont did not give up and fought back in the second period but Sports scored a third midway through the half, to make the game safe.  They were then able to give all of their substitutes a fair amount of match time.

After an uneventful opening 10 minutes, Sports’ striker Tyler Robinson was tripped in the penalty area by Louie Bombourg.  Jared Myers converted from the spot.

Sports continued on the offensive. Jude Jakes-McKay’s shot on the turn was fielded by goalkeeper, George Armstrong. Skipper, Josh Eatwell’s low drive was just wide. Jake Woods hit the Bedfont crossbar from a low cross.

George Armstrong did well to push a through ball away despite the close attention of the oncoming home attackers. He then took Tyler Robinson’s well-hit shot high up.

In the 27th minute, Jared Myers won the ball following a defensive mistake and set up Tyler Robinson to double Sports’ advantage.

Sports’ central defender, Josh Nunez, who had an outstanding match, went forward for a corner taken by George Maxwell, which he headed just over.

Tyler Robinson just failed to get a touch to a good cross from Jake Woods.

George Armstrong saved Jude Jakes-McKay’s low shot from the edge of the box, at full stretch.

Josh Nunez headed over the bar from another corner.

Jared Myers’ good run into the penalty area was foiled by the weight of defensive numbers.

Half time score: Bedfont Sports 2 Bedfont 0

George Armstrong saved low down at Jude Jakes-McKay’s feet, 2 minutes after the restart.

Sports’ keeper, Frankie Beckles was brought into the action by Henry Kamara’s lob into the box.

Frankie then saved from Alfie Harburn, who had been released by James Payne.

Josh Eatwell’s long throw into the Bedfont penalty area produced a concerted appeal for handball. A corner was given and the keeper punched George Maxwell’s kick away.

Tyler Robinson got to a good through ball but only managed to direct it past the upright.

However, Tyler scored Sports’ 3rd goal, in the 64th minute, from Jared Myers’ pass, with a lob into an empty net.

George Armstrong fielded Tylers’ awkward bouncing shot from 25 yards.

Max Webb took over Sports’ captaincy, when Josh Eatwell left the field in the 70th minute, as part of his teams’ final substitution.

Tyler picked up Jared Myers’ through ball, cut inside past his marker and fired narrowly wide.

Frankie Beckles outjumped Bedfont’s Andre Smith to take a long high ball.

Final score: Bedfont Sports 3   Bedfont 0

TEAM LINE-UPS

Bedfont Sports: Frankie Beckles, William Wickham, Josh Eatwell (capt) (Patrick Quinn 70 mins), Max Webb, Josh Nunez, Jake Woods (Trisdon Andrews 54), George Frise, Tyler Robinson, Jude Jakes-McKay (Joseph Smith 60), George Maxwell (Alfie Lal 70) and Jared Myers (Ben Bell 68).

Bedfont: George Armstrong, James Payne, Louie Bombourg, James Chamberlain (Miguel Camara 73), Oscar Syms, Jake Heighes (Joshua Afonso 46), Henry Kamara, Alfie Harburn, Andre Smith (capt), Zobair Elmoumni (Joseph Abaliwano 90) and George Taylor (Younes Boudhar 86). 

Referee: Jack Ridge   

Assistant Referees: Jacob Emanuel and Denis Hasanaj.

Other Results: The other Middlesex clubs involved in this round of the FA Vase had a mixed day overall, with 4 others progressing and 5 exiting the competition.

There were two other all Middlesex ties. Wembley beat FC Deportivo Galicia 3-0 at home. Jonathan Iley put them ahead in the second minute and Henry Osei and Rimi Lokilo-Imponge added further goals. Spelthorne Sports went through 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out at London Samurai Rovers, after a 1-1 draw. Spelthorne had gone ahead in the second minute, through an OG and Jakub Weina had equalised in the 37th minute.

The other successful Middlesex clubs were Brook House, who won 3-0 at Buckingham Town, thanks to a hattrick by Troy Pender-Brown and British Airways, who were 3-1 winners at Ampthill Town. The BA scorers were Shaun Aram (2) and Armari Adams.

Broadfields United and Staines & Lammas both lost penalty shoot-outs.   Broadfields United drew 1-1 at home to Rothwell Corinthians, after Frankie Pashias had put them ahead and subsequently went down 4-2 on penalties. Staines Lammas went 2-0 up at Cranfield United, through goals by Ethan Leeks but were pulled back, with the equaliser coming in added time. They lost the shoot-out 5-3.

Edgware & Kingsbury lost 2-1 to Newport Pagnell Town, at Silver Jubilee Park. Their goal was scored by Miguel Pina in the 88th minute.  

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

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