Match Preview

This Saturday, Bedford Town take a trip to Oxfordshire, in the PitchingIn Southern League Division One Central against Didcot Town FC. The 72-mile trip is the furthest journey Gary Setchell's Eagles side will make on the road this season in the league and after dropping points to top of the table Berkhamsted FC on Tuesday night, his side will be looking to dust themselves off and bounce back at the Loop Meadow Stadium.

The Railway Men currently sit at 13th in the league table with 6 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. The last meetings between the two teams resulted in a 0-0 draw and a 5-goal thriller with Bedford winning 3-2 at The Eyrie.

This week, Eagles' top scorer, Rene Howe, sat down with www.bedfordeagles.net to talk shop. Read the interview in full, below:

Rene. Thanks for taking time to speak with us and allowing the fans a chance to hear from our current top scorer. How's the season going for you so far?

Hi all, firstly I want to thank the club for having me back this season, at such a fantastic well-run club. Secondly, to the fans who watch and travel with us… the chants of ‘Renaldo’ or ‘Eaglesssss’ give me and the team such joy to play for you.
To our season, it’s been very good! Hasn’t it! We had an early stumble at Dunstable but since then, the wins and performances have earned us FA Cup, FA Trophy and league runs unbeaten. We were recently top of the league, so I would say it’s most likely been the best season/team Bedford Town has had in some time.

You’ve had a remarkable first half of the season, scoring 14 in 17 appearances. Do you feel you can keep that form going into the new year and push the team back to the top of the table?

It’s been great for me, 35-year-old at the top of the team charts and up there in the league’s top scorers. In September I scored 7 goals, October - 6 goals and now November - 1 goal. But it has been amazing to see the other lads chip in this month and rightly so, getting some plaudits! There will be much more top of the league action and switching places between us and other clubs that’s for sure!

You tweeted after the Berkhamsted defeat about the loss “not defining us”. Do you feel the result was fair or could we have got more from the game?

What I meant in the tweet “not defining us” is that one loss in so many games will not decide the season. We are only one third of the way through the season and when you have been so dominant recently and top of the form table you need to put that into perspective!
It was inevitable we would lose a game but not a defining loss for sure! We could’ve won at Berko but we didn’t finish them off in first half, they had a chance and scored… that’s the tale of the game!

We travel to Didcot Town this Saturday. With a few players absent with injuries, how vital had the work of the backroom staff been this season?

The club’s infrastructure, fanbase, staff, players and physios are currently at a level you would find at conference level. We need to get this club where it belongs! I would like to thank Jazzy for her expertise in recent months, her care for her players is second to none. Special mention for DS - rest up son, we got a league to win!

You very kindly treated a few fans to tickets, drinks, etc at a home match this season. How important is that connection with the fans and giving back for their support to you and the team?

I was surprised not many more took me up on my offer! I think I put it out too late. But I did take care of some tickets and buy a couple of rounds for everyone but that is nothing compared to paying fans week in, week out who support this club! I will do it again in the new year… keep an eye out! Up the eagles!

After a flying start to the Eagles league campaign, fans are urged to retain hope and keep the support coming, home and away. With 23 games still to play in the league, solid performances + excellent home support = Bedford's year for promotion!

Admission information (via Didcot Town FC) below:

Admission (cash only):

• Adults £10
• Concessions £5
• Accompanied Under 16's FREE
• Matchday Programme £2

For Saturday fixtures, access to the main bar is via the turnstiles. These are typically open around 13:30-13:45.