Bedfordshire League preview
Proving that the weather allows a full league and cup programme, the spotlight falls on the Britannia Cup quarter-final ties involving eight Premier Division clubs.
The tie of the round should have seen current holders Shefford Town & Campton at Caldecote for the second time in 14 days but as the Harvey Close hosts have a prior engagement, they will have to entertain Ampthill Town in a re-arranged Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy semi-final instead and that kicks off at 2pm.
However the other three ties should all go ahead with the in-form Renhold United facing a trip to Hillgrounds to take on AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. Having won there 5-1 in league action back in mid-November, you would expect United to again come out on top.
Over at Crawley Road, Woburn play host to a Flitwick Town side that beat them in the league at the same venue just a fortnight ago. The other tie is at Oakley Playing Fields where Oakley Sports hope to avenge a November league reverse against Bedford Hatters at the same venue.
Away from the cup, in the Premier Division at the Armadillo Stadium, Arlesey Town Reserves will be looking for their first home win since beating Flitwick Town back in mid-October when Wilshamstead come calling. However with the visitors having lost just twice on the road in the league this season, the Blues’ task will not be an easy one.
Having lost just once in their last four home games, Sharnbrook will fancy their chances of winning at Lodge Road against visitors Blunham whose only away succcess came at Dunton back in mid-December.
Due to the resheduled Beds FA Senior Trophy tie at Caldecote, Shefford Town & Campton should climb back into top spot and retain their unbeaten home record when they host second from bottom visitors Dunton at Rectory Close.
Attention for the Division One clubs falls on the Centenary Cup quarter-finals and having already lost to them twice in 2012, Henlow face a major hurdle if they are to reach the semi-finals when they host Sandy at Groveside.
Lidlington United Sports have already achieved a league double over Kings AFC and they are favourites to make it a treble at the King George VI Playing Fields.
Over at Marston Playing Fields, Marston Shelton Rovers will start as favourites to progress at the expense of the visitors Caldecote Reserves while at Cople’s Grange Lane, Bedford Sports Athletic host near neighbours Ickwell & Old Warden in a tie that could go either way.
Away from the cup, there are three Division One matches taking place. In Mowsbury Park, FC Meppershall will fancy their chances of collecting the spoils when visited by a Luton Boys side that has won just once on the road all season.
At Miller Road, Meltis Abion will be hopeful of their first home win of the season when visited by a AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College side that has lost its last six away games.
The third fixture is at Pirton Recreation Ground where hosts Lea Sports PSG look to take their unbeaten home run to four games when Westoning pay a visit. They have lost their last four away from home.
The Jubilee Cup action for Division Two clubs is restricted to just two games. At Stonefield’s, AFC Turvey are favourites to progress at the expense of a Potton United Reserves whom they have beaten twice in the league this term.
Then at Stockwood Park, Bromham United will have to be at their very best if they are to overcome Sundon Park Rangers whose last home league defeat came at their hands back in late October.
Division Two action is also reduced to just three games. At The Warren, leaders Elstow Abbey should retain their unbeaten ways when visited by Queens Park Crescents while at the Luton Regional Sports Centre, Stopsley Park are expected to collect the three points against bottom of the table Great Barford who travel in search of their first win of the season.
The third fixture is at Second Meadow where Clifton hope for only their second home win against a Pavenham side who are on a four game unbeaten roll.
For the two lower division sides, their are 16 Watson Shield ties with the best of the round perhaps being an all Division Three clash between Wilshamstead Reserves and high flying Jubilee Playing Fields visitors Goldington.
Stevington should make it into the hat for the last eight at the expense of Dunton Reserves whose only away win of the season came at Eastcotts AFC in the previous round. Meanwhile at Gold Street, there is another Division Three clash between hosts Riseley Sports and Sundon Park Rangers Colts.
In Mowsbury Park, Bedford Park Rangers meet fellow Division Four side Stewartby Village who were reinstated into the competition after it was discovered Flitwick Town had fielded four in-eligible players against them in their first round tie.
Two other Division Four sides enjoying home advantage are Marsh Leys who host Division Three Potton Town at Cutler Hammer while Thurleigh entertain Bedford Panthers at Keysoe Road.
The final fixture is at Crawley Road where Division Three hosts Cranfield United Reserves are expected to progress at the expense of Division Four visitors Dunton ‘A’ who have won just once on the road all season.
In Division Three there are three games, the first at Weston Park where Eastcotts AFC will be looking to avenge a defeat by a Kempston Hammers Sports side that beat them just a fortnight ago.
At Hillgrounds, Royal Oak Kempston will search for only their second home win against a visiting Flitwick Town Reserves side which has lost all of its nine away games to date. And at Westoning Reserves, who are without a win in their last nine, leaders Renhold Village at Greenfield Road, the visitors being unbeaten in their last eight matches.
Division Four has four games. On The Green, Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves look to take their unbeaten ways up to six games when visited by Dinamo Flitwick while at Whiston Crescent, hosts Clifton Reserves are expected to collect the points against a Goldington Hammers side which has lost its last five games.
Wootton Recreation Ground is the venue where Wootton Village take on an Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ side that has lost its last four outings while the fourth and final Division Four encounter is at Hillgrounds where Kempston Athletic play hosts to the visiting Caldecote ‘A’.
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
