Bedfordshire League: Kempston Town stay top

John Guiney struck on the hour mark.

Still sitting just a point behind them in second spot are Lidlington United Sports, for them it was a return to winning ways with a 4-1 home win over Caldecote who now drop to the bottom of the league table.

Alex Burrows with a hat-trick plus a strike from Liam Parker only being replied to once by Paul Lawrence.

Taking over third are Shillington, with AFC Oakley M&DH’s home pitch failing a morning pitch inspection the scheduled game between the clubs was quickly switched to Greenfield’s where The Shills took their unbeaten ways up to seven games and ended their visitors’ unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory.

Chris Slough shot them ahead in the 11th minute before Mark Smith levelled matters 17 minutes later only to see Adrian Fontenelle hit what turned out to be the winning goal just six minutes later.

Edging ever closer to the top of the table are Flitwick Town who took their unbeaten ways up to five games and moved up into fourth spot following their 3-1 home win over Wootton Blue Cross. Daniel Stafford netted all three goals against a lone reply from Carl Ibbotson to leave the Blue Cross still looking for their first away win of the season.

Elsewhere, it was a red letter day for Sharnbrook who lifted themselves off the bottom of the table in claiming their first win of the season with a 4-3 home victory over Shefford Town & Campton who have now lost their last six games. All this coming after the Town had led 2-0 at half-time and regained the lead at 3-2 following an early second half home comeback.Jordan Baxter twice plus Steve Yessian and Luke Devin netting the home goals, Michael Jones with a brace and Andrew Hayday marking the Town scoresheet.

Meantime, Ickwell & Old Warden still remain unbeaten on home soil this season following their 2-1 win over Pavenham. Mark Franklin and Lee Threadgold netting the goals against a lone reply from James Owen. Whilst Wilstead took their unbeaten ways up to four games by sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw at Renhold United. Paul Jones and Kevin Butler on the scoresheet against United replies via Serge Kadji and Jason Allison.

Bedfordshire FA Intermediate Cup 1st Round

In a mixed bag of results, six sides made their way into the bag for the second round draw where there will also be Eastcotts AFC whose delayed tie with Barton Rovers Reserves will now take place next weekend and AFC Turvey who had their game at St Joseph’s postponed due to an unplayable pitch.

Three of these sides claiming wins over fellow Bedfordshire County Football League counterparts.Leading the way were Goldington who ran out 6-1 home winners over Marabese Ceramics, Antony Plaiter netting three times, Sheldon Washington twice and James Morris once against a lone reply from Colin Stanley.

Whilst despite having their goalkeeper Jack Mannion sent off just three minutes into the contest Henlow recovered to claim a 2-1 home win over Sundon Park Rangers. Matt Wilson and James Campbell their marksmen against a penalty reply from Edward Lewis.

Meantime, Woburn Lions needed a penalty shoot-out to win at Sandy after 90 minutes play had seen the sides deadlocked at 2-2.

Liam Brophy and Mark Jennings made the home scoresheet against Lions strikes from Daniel McClaren and Antony Kostlw. The penalty shoot-out going 5-4 in the Lions favour after home player Ian Jakes saw his spot kick saved. Liam Brandon, Daniel McClaren, Antony Kostlw, Lewis Murray and Ben Nichols netting for The Lions and David Gill, Ryan Gregory, Tom McGhee and Nathan Morris for the home side.

The trio joining them are Bedford Sports Athletic, Elstow Abbey and Bromham United. Athletic with goals from Aaron Izzard and Carmine Defoe 2-0 home winners over South Midlands League AFC Dunstable Reserves and the Abbey also seeing off South Midlands League opposition in the shape of Totternhoe Reserves with a 4-2 home win. David Cullip, Dave McCarthy, Dom Parrella and Junior Ivy all finding the back of the net. Whilst Bromham claimed a 4-0 home win over Luton District and South Beds League outfit Jedenaska thanks to strikes from Ben Robinson, Pete Hanwell, Elijah Smith and Jahrome Mullings.

However, making an early exit were Luton Boys Seniors in a 3-2 penalty shoot-out reverse at South Midlands League 61FC Luton Reserves after the 90 minutes had seen the sides deadlocked at 1-1 after Michael O’Hanlon had netted. Whilst a goal from Sam Amuso failed to save Shefford Town & Campton Reserves losing 2-1 at Luton District & South Beds side Lewsey Park. Plus there were home defeats for Caldecote Reserves 0-3 against Stotfold Reserves of the South Midlands League and Brickhill Tigers beaten 0-6 at home by South Midlands League Crawley Green Reserves.

Division Two

League leaders Queens Park Crescents had their seasons 100% ways brought to an end when beaten 2-0 at home by AFC Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves who thus thanks to goals from Kieran Souter and Ray Patrickson maintained their own 100% away ways to climb up into fourth spot in the league standings.

With second place Potton Town sitting the afternoon out, Potton United Reserves are now within a point of them after winning 2-0 at AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves where Josh Everitt-Watson netted both goals.

Meantime, jumping up the league table into sixth spot are Cranfield United who claimed a 1-0 home win over AFC Harlington thanks to a goal from Ben Johnson. Whilst Co-op Sports have now drawn their last three games after sharing the spoils in a 3-3 stalemate at Riseley Sports. Karl Walker with a brace plus John Jefferey on the home scoresheet against replies from Tom Miller, Conor Sherry and Tom McMillan.

Division Three

For league leaders Meltis Albion it was an end to their seasons 100% ways after they were beaten 2-0 at Wilstead Reserves whose goals came from Jardine Patel-Joseph and Ciaran McEvoy. All of which allowed Westoning who have played two games less to move to within five points of them after they retained their own seasons unbeaten ways with a 6-1 home win over Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves. Nick Shirley with a brace plus an own goal and strikes from Taylor Clayton, Luke Cunniff and Tom Smith only being replied to once by Harry Baker.

However, the top scorers of the day were Kempston Hammers Sports who ran out 7-0 home winners over Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves. Jamie Peacock netting four times and Lorenzo Jordan claiming the other three.

Elsewhere, there was a shock 3-1 home defeat for Stevington at the hands of Bedford Panthers. Libero Battezzato, Aaron Perrett and Damien Curtis on the visitors scoresheet against the lone home reply from Darren King.

Meantime, Clifton Reserves have now lost their last six games after losing 3-1 at home against Elstow Abbey Reserves. Zak Williams, Harold Hazza and Lee Rosborough the Abbey scorers against a lone reply from Tony Norman. Whilst AFC Bush are still looking for their first win of the season and remain on the bottom of the league table after being beaten 4-1 at Kempston Con Club Sports. James Coates twice plus Vincent Clark and Tom Wheelhouse seeing their goals only replied to by Alex Grieve.

Division Four

With league leaders FC Houghton having the three points gifted to them after Shefford Town & Campton A failed to raise a side to travel to meet them, their lead at the head of the division four league table increased to three points after second place Wootton Village were held to a 2-2 draw at third place Meltis Albion Reserves. Craig Damon and Daniel Reed on the home scoresheet against a brace in reply from Valiant Mudokwani.

Whilst now in fourth spot are Cranfield United Reserves who thanks to an own goal plus strikes from Jack Skinner and Phil Creek against replies from Tony Anyanwu and William Pinney won 3-2 at bottom of the table Bedford Park Rangers. United jumping above Dinamo Flitwick who went down 4-0 at home to a Moggerhanger United side claiming their first away win of the season. George Tyrer with a brace plus James Gauge and Paul Beith netting the vital goals.

Sixth place is now occupied by Atletico Europa who also netted their first away win of the season in winning 6-3 at Caldecote A. Raiqwan Joseph twice plus Domenico Morgillo, Tavon Carter, Gary Townsend and Miroslav Zivkovic seeing their goals only replied to by a home hat-trick from Andrew Spiers.

Meantime following three straight defeats, Mid Beds Tigers returned to winning ways with a 5-1 home win over Flitwick Town Reserves. Lucas Craig with a brace being supported by strikes from Jack Willis, Jacob McHutcherson and Brad Dennis against a lone reply from Town’s Benn Ward whose side are still left looking for their first away win of the season.

With Clapham Sports having lost their last two games and visitors Sandy Reserves their last four outings perhaps nobody will be surprised to see their encounter at King George VI Playing Fields ended in a 0-0 draw.