Bedford Sunday League: Lawson Park and Meltis fail to deliver

With Lawson Park Rangers and Meltis Mexicans both losing to Queensmen and Caldecote Young Boys respectively, the alarm bells are not yet ringing but losing twice in two weeks is not the form expected from them. In the Queens versus Rangers game, Lawson Park had the better first half, Joe O’Donnell in the Queens’ goal bringing out some outstanding saves. John Williets rolled back the years for Queens to crash in a half volley from just outside the penalty box to seize the lead. The rest of the scoring took place in the final five minutes when Chris King scored twice to give the final score a more emphatic look.

Caldecote mauled the Mexicans with six goals away from home, whilst Lawson lost3-0at Lawrence Park. Constant & Co made up some useful ground by beating Haynes 4-0.

Sharnbrook Casuals have now won four out of four and head Division One by three points. Stewartby were the latest victims of the Casuals shipping ten goals, but pluckily replying with four of their own Sharnbrook’s scorers were Darren Wallinger with three, Shaun Barnett, Jack Hoogstraten and Josh Bamford with a pair each and just the one for Ryan Massey.

Dunton Sunday are second after their home draw against Kempston Hammers with Old Hastingsburians third after a 3-0 win at 21st GNG Tigers. Bird in Hand hauled themselves off the bottom with a 4-1 win against Harrold & Carlton. Bird had the better of the first half but went in 0-0. Gavin Millard opened the scoring for Bird with a 25 yard screamer, but the scores were level five minutes later. Tom Dymond came off the bench and buried a penalty for Bird and then Tom scored again with a cross cum shot. Bird scored once more to make the final score four / one.

New Inn Biggleswade have not really got into their form of last year, this week feeling defeat for the first time at home to Newtown Rangers 4-2.

Renhold lead the way at the top of Division Two after repelling the Sharks with a 10-0 battering. Jamie Lovell was Renhold’s man of the match with four goals, Andrew Latimer scored twice, and there were debut goals for Sean Cafferty and Nick Mistry. Scott Mann and Chris Powell scored the other two. Mowsbury Athletic are second after beating Wootton Wanderers 2-1. Andy Klein scored Athletic’s first goal after only seven minutes and eight minutes later Jason Fleeting got his name on the score-sheet after a fumble by Wootton’s keeper presented him with a tap-in. Wanderers pulled one back before half-time but there was no further scoring. Caldecote Reserves scored four, as did their visitors Houghton Conquest to keep themselves just outside the top two, and Eagle Heating enjoyed their first win of the season at home to Cranfield. Luke Meech opened the scoring for Eagle, but this was clawed back to leave it level at half-time. Cranfield were on top in the second half but Eagle’s defence was superb and in the last five minutes Simon Beever stole in twice to score to make it 3-1 which flattered the home team.

M & DH Clapham and Bedford Panthers lead Division Three after both clubs won their third games. Clapham made it 3-0 at home to Dunton Reserves, and Bedford Panthers had a bit more opposition from Meltis Rangers who were at home. The final score there was 3-2. Mile Road Casuals beat Old Boys 4-3 to inflict the Boys’ first defeat of the season. Meanwhile Gardeners Arms Biggleswade, who started the season rather tentatively, got their first victory away to Wells Stars racking up a 3-2 win. Mark Goodship and George Farrell were the Wells’ marksmen. Grafton Celtics won by a similar score at home to Flitwick Eagles.

There was not a lot of movement in Division Four where three of the five games ended in draws. Bottom club Bellini’s scraped a draw out of Fox & Hounds Clapham which is an excellent result for them. Bellini’s were gifted two goals by the Fox defence but James Munro scored to make it two / one at half-time. Fox took control in the second half but Bellini’s scored their third. Substitute Neil Alexis came on to reduce the arrears to three / two and Neil hauled Fox level with an equaliser. BMC beat second placed Goldington Rangers by a goal to nil. Shillington Pirates won their first game of the season at home to Oakley Reserves by five goals to one.

Westoning Gijon are galloping ahead at the top of Division Five after their 6-0 destruction of AFC Kempston. Second placed Bedford Old Boys slipped up by getting only one point off Blackbirds Flitwick and Sandy Titans lost their first game against AF Mato 2-1 leaving the leaders room to stretch into a two point lead with a hundred percent record. Alfa Oakley are fourth after their four – all draw against Salento. Alfa’s scorers were Daniel Lupton, Ric Bulzis and two from Frank Profeta. Sir William Peel Sandy made up some ground with a home 4-3 win against Shillington Reserves. The deadlock in this game was not broken until half way through the first half. A low shot beat the Pirates’ keeper and then Alex Bailey made it 2-0 to the Peelers by half-time. Alex made it three in the second half, but then the Pirates dug deep and pulled two goals back, one a penalty. Man of the match Jesse Moyo cracked in number four but the Pirates scored last falling one goal short of a point.

The top three clubs in the Under 21 Division all won this weekend, putting a decent gap between themselves and the rest of the division. Brickhill Wanderers ‘A’ beat Luton Central 6-1 to retain their one hundred percent record, Hitchin Town beat Watling Youth2-1 away and remain unbeaten, whilst Shefford Saints beat Leighton Corinthians Seniors 2-0 away from home leaving themselves on eight points from five played. Corinthians are fourth on four points. In the only other game played Sacred Heart drew 3-3 with Brickhill Wanderers ‘B’.