Bedfordshire County League preview

Whilst Championship titles are not usually won in the month of January, today’s Premier Division supported by Sportsform action at Harvey Close between Caldecote and Shefford Town & Campton will surely give a significant sign as to where the league trophy will be heading to come the end of April.Hosts Caldecote going into the encounter still 100% on home soil this season the slight favourites to collect the spoils.

Over at Miller Road, third place Bedford Hatters take on local rivals AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College knowing only the full three points will do if they are to stay live championship challengers, a comment that also applies to fourth place Oakley Sports who host Renhold United at their Oakley Playing Field headquarters.United, winners of their last three away games, and now on an eight game unbeaten run perhaps the favourites to spoil their day.

Down at the other end of the league table, basement club Woburn, now on a four game losing run and with just one home win to their name all season host fellow strugglers Flitwick Town at Crawley Road. The Town on the travel in search of their first away win of the season to stay clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Still in that drop zone are Dunton, for them it’s a visit to Moggerhanger Playing Fields to be hosted by a Blunham side who have won just once on home soil in their last five outings to give the visitors hope of just their second away win of the season.

The final top-flight action coming at The Armadillo Stadium where Arlesey Town Reserves losers of their last two home games entertain a Sharnbrook side who have won just once on the road in their last six trips away from Lodge Road.

In division one the game of the day comes at Bedford Road Recreation Ground with the clash between hosts Sandy and Marston Shelton Rovers.The home side looking to return to winning ways after losing out to Luton Boys last weekend against a Rovers side who travel now unbeaten in their last 11 starts.

All of the other three serious title contenders are blessed with home advanatage.At Hurst Grove, Lidlington United Sports will be expected to retain their season’s unbeaten home ways when visited by bottom of the table Meltis Abion who will hit the road looking for their first win in 14 outings. Whilst at Cople Playing Fields, Bedford Sports Athletic will start the firm favourites to collect another three points when visited by a Westoning side whose nine away outings to date have seen them win just the once this season at Meltis Albion in mid-November.

The third title contender in home action being Ickwell & Old Warden, who on The Green defend their season’s unbeaten home record against a Kings AFC team who are now enjoying their best spell of the season and who could well cause an upset.

At Groveside, Henlow beaten just once in their last six home outings host FC Meppershall who last won on the road in early October at Lee Sports PSG.

Whilst at Hillgrounds, AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves who have collected just a single point from their last 10 games play hosts to a Luton Boys side who won for the first time on the road this season at Sandy last weekend.

The final action in this section comes at Pirton Recreation Ground, where Lea Sports PSG will be looking to take their unbeaten home ways up to three games when visited by Caldecote Reserves.

Division two action sees both of the big guns enjoying home advantage. At The Warren, league leaders Elstow Abbey defend their season’s unbeaten home ways with a visit from a Stopsley Park side who have won just twice on the road all season.Whilst for AFC Turvey, its action at Stonefields against a Bromham United side who hit the road unbeaten in their last six outings.

Down at the other end of the league table, basement club Great Barford head for Stockwood Park in search of their first win of the season against a Sundon Park Rangers side who have lost just twice on home soil all season.

Whilst just above the drop zone there is a Second Meadow meeting between hosts Clifton and their visitors M& DH Oakley, the hosts looking to take their unbeaten home ways up to four games against an Oakley side who have lost four of their last five away outings.

Over at Mowsbury Park, Pavenham will be in search of home win number three on the bounce when visited by a Potton United Reserves side who have not won on the road in league action since beating Great Barford back in mid-September.Whilst at Rectory Close, Shefford Town & Campton Reserves will be hosting a Queens Park Crescents side that travel looking to take their unbeaten away ways up to six games.

In Division Three, new league leaders Renhold Village defend their season’s 100% home record when they receive a visit from Potton Town at their Playing Field headquarters.Town on the travel looking for away win number three on the bounce. Whilst for Goldington, it’s a trip across town to Hillgrounds to face a Royal Oak Kempston side who have won just the once on home soil all season.

For Cranfield United Reserves, it’s an away encounter with Flitwick Town Reserves at Steppingley Road.United looking to take their unbeaten away ways up to 10 games against a Town side who have won just the once on home soil all season to drop to second from bottom in the league standings.

The only side below them in the table are Dunton Reserves, for them it’s a journey to Jubilee Playing Fields to take on hosts Wilshamstead Reserves who will be firm favourites to collect their fifth home win on the bounce.

Other action comes at Gold Street, the venue where hosts Riseley Sports now on a six game winning run entertain Westoning Reserves and at Cutler Hammer,where hosts Kempston Hammers Sports will be seeking to end a run of three straight home defeats against an Eastcotts AFC side who have lost their last three away games.

In Division Four, league leaders Bedford Park Rangers will be in home Mowsbury Park action against Bedford Panthers who have won just twice on the road all season. Whilst second place Marsh Leys, still unbeaten on the road this season make their way to Digswell Playing Fields to be hosted by Shefford Town & Campton A.

For fellow promotion hopefuls Thurleigh still 100% on the road this season, it’s a trip to Whiston Crescent to take on Clifton Reserves who have won just the twice in their last eight home outings. Whilst Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves head to Horseshoes Close where they will be expected to collect the full three points from bottom of the table hosts Dunton A.

Other action is due at Stewartby Way, the venue where hosts Stewartby Village look for home win number four on the bounce against a Sandy Reserves side who have been beaten just three times on their trips away from Bedford Road all season. Whilst back in Mowsbury Park, Goldington Hammers with just two home wins to their name this season receive a visit from Caldecote A.

The final action of the day comes in the shape of Jubilee Cup 1st Round action at Solway Road North between hosts Co-op Sports and Marabese Ceramics, a trip to Elstow Abbey awaits the winners and a Watson Shield 1st Round tie at Hillgrounds between Kempston Athletic and Sundon Park Colts for which a trip to Riseley Sports awaits the winners.