Bedfordshire County League preview

Action in the Premier Division supported by Sportsform division sees both of the leading title contenders enjoy home advantage, for league leaders Caldecote that means a defence of their season’s 100% home record when they host Sharnbrook at Harvey Close.Whilst at Rectory Road, Shefford Town & Campton defend their own season’s unbeaten home ways when called upon by an Oakley Sports outfit who could well themselves yet get into the challenge for the league crown should they find a way of collecting all three points.

Also still hoping to muscle in on the race for the title are Bedford Hatters, for them it’s a trip on the road to Moggerhanger Playing Fields to face Blunham who they removed from The Britannia Cup at the same venue just 21days ago.With The Hatters having lost just once on the road all season and the hosts three of their last four home league outings, it will be the visitors who will start the day favourites to collect the points.

Over at Renhold Playing Fields, hosts Renhold United now unbeaten on home soil since mid-October will be expected to collect the full three points against second from bottom of the table Dunton who travel with just one away win to their name all season.

Whilst at Hillgrounds, AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College play hosts to Arlesey Town Reserves looking for just their third home win of the season and at Jubilee Playing Fields, Wilshamstead likewise will be in search of home win number three of the season when visited by Flitwick Town who travel in search of away win number one of the season.

The division one title and promotion race now looks to be turning into a five club affair with all the contenders this weekend looking to have winnable games. Of the quintet just two are in home action. For Marston Shelton Rovers that means Playing Fields action against AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves, Rovers defending their season’s unbeaten home ways against a Town side that last won on the road back in late October.

The other club in home action are Sandy, now winners of their last five home outings they look to make that six when yet to win on the road this season Luton Boys pay them a visit at their Bedford Road Recreation Ground headquarters.

Lidlington United Sports head the trio of clubs hitting the road en route to face Westoning at Greenfield Road.The Sports having been beaten just once on the road this season facing a home side who have won just once on home soil all season.Whilst Ickwell & Old Warden now with just one away win from their last four outings on the road make their way to Miller Road to be hosted by a Meltis Albion side that are yet to win on home soil this season.

The third club hitting the road are Bedford Sports Athletic,still unbeaten on the road this season they make tracks for Mowsbury Park to face FC Meppershall whose home record suggests The Athletic could be in for a tough game.

Other action comes at Groveside, the venue where hosts Henlow take on a Caldecote Reserves side that has won just twice on the road this season, and at King George VI Playing Fields where Kings AFC seek just their third home win of the season against Lea Sports PSG who themselves have won just once on the road.

The highlight of the lower league action coming in shape of the quarter-final ties in this season’s Bedfordshire FA Junior County Cup. At Stonfields, AFC Turvey will be expected to make the last four at the expense of Sundon Park Rangers Colts who ply their trade in a division below their hosts.A comment that also applies to Elstow Abbey who go into home action at The Warren against Cranfield United Reserves.

Whilst over at Oakley Playing Fields,M& DH Oakley face an all division two encounter against Potton United Reserves and making up the quartet of ties is the Stockwood Park clash between division two Sundon Park Rangers and the travelling St Joseph Reserves from The Luton District & South Beds League.

With these cup ties taking place the division two league action is restricted to just a programme of four games. At Mowsbury Park, Queens Park Crescents defeated just once in their last seven home outings entertain a Pavenham side that has failed to win on the road since mid-October. Whilst at Solway Road North, Co-op Sports will be the firm favourites to collect the spoils when called upon by Marabese Ceramics.

For bottom of the table Great Barford, the action comes in the form of a home Everton Playing Fields encounter with Shefford Town & Campton Reserves.The hosts looking for their first home point/points of the season against a Town side who have won just the once on the road all season.

The final action coming at The Luton Regional Sports Centre, the venue where hosts Stopsley Park with just one home win to their name all season take on a Clifton side who look for their third away win from their last five outings on the road.

In division three both of the leading two title contenders in action face trips on the road.Goldington the league leaders heading for Mill Lane to be hosted by a Potton Town side that are now unbeaten in their last six league starts and Renhold Village, now on a six game unbeaten run journeying to Hillgrounds to be hosted by a Royal Oak Kempston side that has lost it’s last four home games to tumble down into the relegation zone of the league standings.

Also in that relegation zone are Dunton Reserves, for them it’s home action at Horseshoes Close against Riseley Sports. The hosts looking to end a run of four consecutive home defeats against a Sportsman’s side that are yet to be beaten on the road this season.

That mention of relegation zone also applies to both Flitwick Town Reserves and Kempston Hammers Sports who meet each other at Steppingley Road. Town looking for just home win number two of the season against a Hammers side that has won just twice on the road over the same period.

Other action comes at Weston Park, the venue at which Eastcotts AFC host Westoning Reserves and with the visitors now without a win in their last seven outings you would expect the home side to collect the spoils.Whilst the final game at Stevington Playing Fields between hosts Stevington and Wilshamstead Reserves will see the visitors with seven wins from their last eight outings the firm favourites to collect the spoils despite the hosts sitting three places above them in the league table.

Division four action takes league leaders Bedford Park Rangers on the road to Wootton Playing Fields to defend their season’s 100% away record against hosts Wootton Village.Village having been defeated just once in their last six home outings will not be easy nuts to crack as they look to extend their lead at the head of the league standings to eight points, in view of the fact that their nearest challengers for the league crown, Thurleigh are sitting the afternoon out.

Meantime, Marsh Leys will look to enhance their promotion bid when at their Cutler Hammer base they look for their fourth home win on the bounce against a Caldecote A side that travel in search of just their third away win of season.

Also still very much in the promotion race are both Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves and Stewartby Village who go head to head on The Green. With the visitors having lost just once in their nine away outings to date this season you would fancy them to collect at least a share of the spoils on offer.

Over at Digswell Playing Fields, Shefford Town & Campton A play hosts to Dunton A. All of the visitors 11away games this season have ended in defeat and with the hosts having lost just twice on home soil this season you would fancy them to collect another three points to stay on the fringe of the promotion race and leave Dunton rooted to the bottom of the league table.

Other action is due at The Bedford Hockey Cente, being the venue for Bedford Panthers home clash with Goldington Hammers. Panthers going into the game with just one home win to their name this season against a Hammers side that has won just once on the road all season. Whilst at Whiston Crescent, it’s local derby action between Clifton Reserves and Sandy Reserves. With the visitors having won five of their last seven away outings and the home side just once on home soil over the same period it is the visitors you would fancy to collect the spoils.

The final game being at Hinksley Recreation Ground, the venue for Dinamo Flitwick’s home clash with Kempston Hammers.The hosts in search of just their second home win of the season against an Athletic side who travel looking for away win number three of the season.