Soaring Magpies ground Eagles (30.03.04)

A FIRST-CLASS performance from the Magpies at Bedford on Tuesday night delivered a third consecutive victory and another step in the direction of the Conference South.
Resplendent in their new red and yellow striped away kit, sponsored by the supporters, the Magpies fielded an attacking line up, with new on-loan striker Richard Harris up front.
In an evenly contested first half, United drew first blood when Harris raced clear only for Bedford keeper Ian Brown to foil his shot with his feet.
The Eagles quickly responded in similar fashion, this time Steve Jackman being denied by the feet of keeper Nick Hart.
The half continued to swing from end to end, with Andy Dugdale coming closest to breaking the deadlock, when his header was scrambled off the line on 26 minutes.
The second half was dominated by the Magpies, who took the lead on 49 minutes, after livewire Harris was fouled on the edge of the box.
His former Wycombe teammate Martyn Lee stepped up to take the kick, which was parried by the keeper but only as far as Ryan Ashe, who finished from close range.
Ashe again came close to scoring on 66 minutes when his swerving shot was tipped round the post by Brown.
Just two minutes later Bedford equalised, with their only cast iron opportunity of the half.
Speedy striker Drew Roberts burst through the United backline and coolly slotted the ball past Hart.
The Magpies response was instant, with Ben Hammond’s cross from the right wing being flicked on by Ashe, leaving the keeper stranded and Rob Haworth with the elementary task of nodding the ball into the empty net.
United then professionally closed down the game and played out the remaining minutes.