Akpo Sodje's bundled goal on 40 minutes was enough to claim the points and send Heybridge Swifts out of the relegation zone of the Ryman League premier division.

Manager Dave Greene, ecstatic with the result, told the Evening Gazette: "The boys did brilliantly."

Neil Cousins, whose cross Sodje converted in the first half, broke down the right flank and delivered the ball into the box on 60 minutes.

Sodje's header was on target but the keeper was well placed to cover.

This was Heybridge's last real effort in the game as Bedford flooded forward and it took some staunch defending from John Pollard and Lee Kersey to keep Swifts in the game.

Swifts coach Dean Curtis told the Gazette: "The lads have dug in when we needed it and if we win on Saturday we stay up."

Heybridge's next target is Aylesbury, who booked their survival with a win against Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.

Published Wednesday, April 30, 2003

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