Pelicans beaten in nine-goal thriller

Pelicans walked off the pitch on Saturday down and deflated but full of optimism and determination after coming out on the wrong side of a nine-goal thriller against Bedford.Although the team has struggled to pick up results in recent weeks there were clear signs that a change in the team’s fortunes are just around the corner as they enter a pivotal end to the season.Things didn’t start well for Pelicans as they found themselves 2-0 down early on.instead of crumbling they decided to fight fire with fire and got themselves back in the game from a short corner as Sam Phillips got a powerful shot away which was expertly deflected in the front of goal by Kirwin Christoffels.The home side levelled the score in scrappy circumstances early in the second half, but they didn’t care, with Toby Phillips getting the final touch.The game was becoming stretched and end-to-end with a constant game of attack against defence ensuing.Bedford attacked well and kept Sam Major, Iain Page, Chris Page and Huw Mathers busy at the back. Pelicans fell behind again from a short corner before levelling the score up at 3-3 soon after when the outstanding Jack Major brilliantly deflected a powerful shot from Phillips into the net. The home midfield of Ollie Booth, Ian Simons, Sam Landles, Jacob Craig, Christoffels and Phillips didn’t stop throughout and couldn’t have given anymore for their side.Pelicans took the lead for the first time in the game through Major again, a fine strike off the back foot across the goalkeeper following good work down the left from Chris Page.This topsy-turvy game had two more unfortunate twists as Bedford levelled the scores and then scored a late winner to take all three points home. Late chances fell the way of Major who was denied by a superb save, George Van Aalst, who again led the line superbly, and Toby Phillips with the final chance of the game but it wasn’t to be.The positives certainly outweighed the negatives and Pelicans will look to go again as they travel to Hitchin on Saturday to face Blueherts.Pelicans MoM, sponsored by 4Way: Jack Major.