Blues threw away the chance of making amends for their abject surrender in the previous match with Bedfont Sports when they turned in another languid display in this replayed tie. Once again Bedfont capitalised on shoddy defending to post an early lead leaving Blues to chase the game much as they have done in recent weeks. Yes Bedfont keeper Dimitrios Kyriatzis pulled of some remarkable saves , and yes the woodwork came to the visitors rescue, and yes the squad has been beset by injuries but Blues have enough quality to have come back from the early reverse and go on to win the tie . That they didn't was down to a lack of direction, in some cases it seemed lack of a will to win , and a carless and slapdash approach to the game , playing as individuals not as a team. There is an old saying in football; "Hard work beats talent if talent doesn't work hard" and that was never more true than last night. Bedfont were quicker to the ball, attacked the ball in the box when defending and attacking, in contrast to Blues who did neither seemingly waiting for something to happen

. It was a full fifty minutes before Jim Cooper emerged from the dressing room after the game no doubt after an inquest as to why a team that was playing with verve and pace is now ponderous and reverting to launching long balls into the opponents half with little effect. No one would accuse a player of not giving their best on the field but the squad needs to reflect on recent performances look at their own performances, only then will there be an upturn in fortunes.

As for the football Blues made an encouraging start with Michael Pindy the catalyst for most of their good work, he looked bright and pacy whipping in a menacing low cross early on just eluding Joao Carlos.

Bedfont rarely threatened in these opening minutes but their first meaningful attack brought the opening goal after 11 minutes. A quick break saw the ball dropped in behind Jack McQueen, a first time cross was played to the near post where Ezekiel Bademosi reacted quickly running across Connor Martin and Steve King to divert the ball past an exposed Danny Sambridge.

Blues replied when Luke Callander thought he'd brought Blues level when he wriggled free, turning he sent in a rasping drive bringing the best out of Kyriatzis somehow turning the ball over. Mitch Hahn then provided a chance for Carlos but his header from the cross sailed over.

The visitors were happy to sit and defend their lead but when they broke free of their shackles they did with pace and menace looking to release the pacy Andy Ali who caused problems with his direct running throughout the evening. Blues play though was slow ponderous with the ball played laterally or aimlessly pumped into the opposing box without any real purpose allowing Bedfont to clear the danger.

Pindy still plying his trade out on the flank sent in another quality low cross met by King who unleashed a screamer that Kyriatzis somehow managed to save . Despite the pressure Blues failed to create a clear goal scoring opportunity as half time approached with Bedfont happy to go in a goal to the good.

HT 0-1

It was a scrappy start to the second period with neither craft or inventiveness to excite the crowd, Bedfont though were shading possession resorting to some questionable time wasting and robust challenges succeeding in blunting Blues forward progress.

After a period of relative stalemate Blues wrestled the initiative and started to put pressure on the visitors goal but too much of their work lacked direction, similar to the first period when the ball was launched into the box in the hope of a knockdown rather than working an opening. Callander had a measure of success flicking the ball on with is head but Blues attackers were static and failing to latch on to the ball.

Bedfont continued to work hard hunting in packs to close down Blues space .To illustrate the contrast in approach when Blues won a throw deep in their own half the visitors, back line pushed over the hallway line pushing their midfield forward to smother space, something Blues failed to do throughout the evening.

The final twenty minutes saw Blues lay siege to the Bedfont goal , Hahn hit the post from a free kick and forced another save for the keeper from another free kick which were becoming more frequent as the visitors challenges became more agricultural so much so that Michael Kinsella received a red after a second cynical challenge.

In the dying minutes it looked like Pindy may have saved the day for Blues when a slick interchange of passes with sub Manny Ogunrinde found him inside he six yard box where he had the opportunity to pass the ball into the net but he chose to put more power into his shot and miscued badly the ball drifting past the upright.

That final and probably the most clear cut opportunity of the night summed up Blues evening and the chance of progressing through to the next round , a match that may be a watershed in Blues season. Looking on the bright side they still sit in fourth place in the league table but only a marked improvement in form and commitment will keep them there and in the promotion race.

Sambridge , McQueen, Joynes, King, Muguo, Martin(Ogunrinde 46), Pindy, Hahn (Clark 84),Dark, Callander (Adebiyi 67), Carlos

Subs not used ; Pearce, Miller, Kayembe