Bedfordshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - 2022/23

[Rhodes]

It unsurprisingly wasn't to be then for Arlesey Town last night as they went down 5-0 to a strong Southern League Premier Division Central Bedford Town side who already led 3-0 at the interval:

Tuesday 28 February

Bedfordshire FA Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Arlesey Town 0 Bedford Town 5

[Rhodes]

Not SSML but here is a turn up for the books folks, Luton Town won the Bedfordshire FA Senior Challenge Cup, a groundhopper from another Forum was present at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday evening (21 March):

Bedfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Final
Luton Town 6 Biggleswade FC 2
Attendance 751, at Kenilworth Road
Entry £8 by pre-booked ticket, programme and team sheet free
This turned out to be a bit of a mismatch between Luton's development squad, without a first team appearance between them (other than the experienced keeper James Shea, who hasn't any this season after a serious injury curtailed his 2021-22 season) and step 4 Biggleswade FC. Luton got off to a great start and spent the first 8 minutes almost entirely in the Biggleswade half of the pitch, rounding off the period of dominance with a superb strike from around 25 yards by Conor Lawless, with the keeper unable to get near to it. The play continued to be mostly in the same half of the pitch with the keeper tested a few more time until the 29th minute when Jake Burger fired a beauty into the top corner from the edge of the box. The first test for James Shea came after 36 minutes when he made a good save from FC's winger Alex Marsh, but it was Luton who were in the ascendancy and were untroubled by having to make a substitution after 43 minutes.
The early part of the second half saw Biggleswade enjoy more possession and they seemed to be growing into the game. Unfortunately their shooting boots hadn't come with them and the chances they had were squandered high and wide. Ten minutes in the Luton sub Miller Matthews-Lewis opened his account getting on to the end of a very good cross. A few minutes later Biggleswade made a triple substitution, which suggested that they knew the game was up, and although they enjoyed some of the possession for the next 15 minutes or so, their fate was sealed when a penalty was awarded for a clear trip in the box, and Luton full-back Avan Jones netted from the spot.
Alex Marsh pulled on back for FC after 79 minutes when he was in the right place to pick up a loose back pass, when a defender hadn't noticed Shea going to receive the ball, and tapped the ball into a completely undefended net. Just a minute later the advantage was restored with Matthews-Lewis being on hand to fire home from a few feet out, and on 90 minutes he completed his hat-trick with a fine lob over the advancing keeper to give Luton their 6th goal before being substituted himself. The final goal of the game came with FC captain Tom Coles firing a 20 yard free kick through the wall and into the bottom corner, although from a distance it looked like it might have taken a significant deflection. This turned out to be the final kick of the game, and Luton's youngsters lifted the trophy.
Biggleswade were well supported with 100-150 fans making plenty of noise and adding a bit of colour to the occasion.