Bedale AFC Reserves 2 Harlow Hill firsts 3

BEDALE hosted Harlow Hill firsts in the Colin Lowe Memorial Premier Division, and prior to kick off, a minute’s silence was observed to reflect on the life of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Bedale goalkeeper Joshua Skittles was making his league debut, and he was in action after just six minutes when Harlow Hill had the first real chance of the game. Centre forward Tendal Machama hit a fine shot from 20 yards which Skittles brilliantly turned over his bar.

Bedale suffered a major blow after 15 minutes when centre half Josh Fullarton sustained a calf injury and had to leave the field. He was replaced by Sam Vernalls. Manager Dave Proud reverted to centre half with Vernalls playing in centre midfield. A minute later Harlow Hill took the lead as Bedale were still getting organised from the substitution. Machama was one on one with James Kitchingman on the halfway line. He raced past him into the Bedale penalty area and shot past the advancing Skittles into the Bedale goal.

Bedale hit back and were level four minutes later. John Henry played the ball into Vernalls just outside the Harlow Hill penalty area. He played a one-two with Adrian Woodward (AJ) before rifling the ball past Lewis Murray in the Harlow Hill goal. Half time 1-1.

At half time Proud substituted himself to bring on Sam Lyon at right full back. Reece Bickerton, who had been playing right back, moved into centre midfield alongside Mikey Stevens, with Jonathan Burn reverting to centre back alongside Kitchingman.

Two minutes into the second half, Harlow Hill took the lead when Burn passed back to Skittles, who was immediately put under pressure from the on-rushing Machama. Skittles’ miskicked his clearance and Machama stroked the loose ball into the Bedale goal.

But Bedale were level on 53 minutes when a Ryan Moule cross from the right was headed down by AJ back to Vernalls 12 yards out and he rifled another fine strike into the Harlow Hill goal. Three minutes later, Alex Sands replaced AJ. Play at this time was very even with defences on top, however, on 61 minutes Bedale gave away possession on the right, which resulted in Harlow Hill substitute Louis Wheatley scoring.

Bedale pushed for the equaliser, however, Harlow Hill defended well and claimed the three points which take them to the top of the league. Dan Paterson was Harlow Hill's man of the match, with Reece Bickerton taking it for Bedale for the second week running.

Bedale AFC Reserves' next game is at home to Hampsthwaite United in the Colin Lowe Memorial Premier Division of the Harrogate & District Association Football League on Saturday, April 24, kick off 2.30pm.