Return To The Orchard - Bedfont Town vs. Northwood

The Orchard under lights

On Wednesday night, I made my second ever visit to The Orchard for the The Southern League Central Division match between Bedfont Town and Northwood. When I first saw a game here it was in the Combined Counties League when Bedfont FC played Croydon (this post will contain pictures from both games). Bedfont FC withdrew from the Combined Counties last season and Town took over the ground. My first ever Combined Counties game was between Town (then Bedfont Green) and Colliers Wood United at Wibbandune. On that occasion Colliers Wood lost one nil to ten man Bedfont Green and I believe they went on to win the league that season. Back to this game and Bedfont were on a very good run and Northwood were looking to break in to the play off places. 

Kick off in the Croydon game. Note the plane taking off from near by Heathrow.

Northwood start the game at a frantic pace and have a couple of chances in the opening few minutes and are unlucky not to take an early lead. They continue this dominance and Bedfont look attack on the break. The game is littered with fouls and the game struggles to maintain any kind of flow. Bedfont have a few headed chances from corners but theses efforts go just wide of the goal. Northwood get in to some good attacking positions but like the final ball and the game is goalless at half time. 

Goalmouth action with the stand in the background.

The first half is a lot more even and Bedfont push on and try to extended their good run of form. After a few half chances they take the lead. Following a quickly taken short corner, the ball is delivered in to the box and the ball is headed home from close range. The game then becomes very end and there are chances at both ends. There is a delay after a coming together between the Bedfont forward and the Northwood keeper with the later requiring lengthy treatment. In the very last minute Northwood are reduced to ten men when the Bedfont forward is fouled just outside the box and the Northwood player is deemed to be the last man.

Covered standing behind one of the goals.

Since my last visit there have been some considerable improvements to the ground to get it up to Southern League standard. A near identical stand has been erected on the opposite side of the pitch to the one that there on my last visit and more covered accommodation has been built at the clubhouse end. The ground is a ten minute walk from Hatton Cross station on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line and the journey from Central London takes around half an hour. Before the game I went to The Green Man which is a great pub a short walk from Hatton Cross. The clubhouse is friendly and has Sky Sports. 

Slightly blurred picture of the new stand behind the goal.