Harleston Magpies travelled to Bedford in the kindly loaned minibus, on its maiden trip, with manager Mark Emms at the helm and Andrew Johnson in charge of entertainment. Following some good team bonding and team talk completed, Magpies were ready for push back.
Magpies did not bring this energy into the start of the game and made some basic errors. Bedford won a short corner; after being denied on their first three attempts through some good defensive work, they finally capitalised and scored the opening goal. After a stern talking-to at the first-quarter break, all the hard work from recent training sessions paid off, as the Magpies levelled the score through Seth Read.
From there, the Magpies took control. Ali Haslam powered in a short-corner flick to make it 2–1, and moments later, Ben Emms stepped up to the spot to convert a penalty flick — calmly sending the keeper the wrong way for 3–1.
The first half also featured a green card for Ed Brice and a ten-minute yellow for Mark Flatman, forcing Magpies to play compact, defensive hockey as they weathered the Bedford attack.
Ollie Hall, on his debut for the first team, extended the lead early in the second half with a classy slap strike following some good build-up play.
Bedford pulled one back via a penalty flick after a scramble in the D — but any hope of a comeback was short-lived. Tom Ridley made it 5–2 with a sharp finish, before Ali scored his second of the day with a drag flick after another fast, flowing move down the right.
Bedford were shown a ten-minute yellow and a couple of green cards, allowing Magpies to control the game and see it out — coming away with a well-earned three points.
Man of the Match: Charlie Blandy — a defensive short-corner and jab-tackle masterclass.
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