Cockfosters fail to secure win dominance deserved (From Times Series)

Cockfosters held by Bedford in South Midlands Division One

11:52am Monday 2nd April 2012 in Ryman Premier Division Table & Results

After their drubbing at the hands of champions London Colney the previous Tuesday, Cockfosters were determined to bounce back and were the better team for most of their South Midlands Division One clash with Bedford but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

For all their domination over the 90 minutes, the hosts should have been one down within seconds of the kick-off as Bedford surged through the middle of the home defence, only for the impressive Dominic Cassells to stand up well and kick the low effort away.

Cockfosters soon started to exert their domination, with Lorenzo Ferrari producing a couple of stepovers before creating space, only for his shot to be blocked. From the next attack, Sam Oteng-Yeboah tried his luck with a dipping effort that landed on the roof of the net.

On 16 minutes Leon Stewart won a free-kick which he curled around the wall but was denied by a scrambling Alex Bishop save.

Ten minutes before the interval, an error at the back allowed Josh Sturniolo to beat George Ututte and surge to the byline from where his cross was headed into the empty net to give Bedford the lead which they held until the break.

Cockfosters continued to dominate proceedings but without testing the visiting keeper, who looked very hesitant every time the hosts got near to the penalty area.

Ferrari burst through the Bedford defence in the 56th minute, holding off a defender before rifling a shot which Bishop could only parry onto the post and the ball rebounded onto his back and nestled in the goal for a deserved equaliser.

The hosts looked the more likely to take the three points and should have scored again on 64 minutes when substitute Anton Robinson freed Ferrari but with time to pick his shot, he lifted his head and drove the ball over the bar.