Bedfordshire League: March 9 preview

For Premier Division supported by Sportsform clubs that means action in the Britannia Cup with current holders Oakley Sports M&DH making their way to Steppingley Road to take on Flitwick Town.

In their league meeting at the same venue back in mid-October, Town were beaten 4-2 and since that time have managed to win just twice on home soil to leave the visitors firm favourites to take their defence of the famous old trophy into the final tie.

The second tie at The Carlsberg Stadium between AFC Biggleswade and Bedford Hatters is now subject to a management committe decision following Hatters failure to fulfil their league meeting at the same venue last weekend. The outcome of which will be posted onto website www.bedfordshirefootballleague.co.uk as soon as possible.

For division one clubs its action in the Centenary Cup. At Harvey Close, Caldecote Reserves play hosts to Elstow Abbey who shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw at the same venue in league action just a month ago to suggest another close contest looks to be on the cards. Whilst at Groveside, you would have to think the visiting Leighton United will start the day favourites to overcome hosts Henlow despite the home sides recent upsurge of form.

In the Jubilee Cup for division one sides, it’s Mowsbury Park action between hosts Queens Park Crescents and Marabese Ceramics. With the Tilermen not beaten on the road since early October, it is they who will start the day favourites despite The Crescents being one of those sides who on their day are quite capable of beating anyone. Whilst in Leagrave Park, St Joseph Reserves having beaten their opponents Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves 5-0 in league action just 14 days ago will fancy their chances of marking their debut season in the league with an appearance in this seasons Jubilee Cup final.

For the lower division sides it’s action in The Watson Shield. At Renhold Playing Fields, division three hosts Renhold United Reserves will be firm favourites to overcome their division four visitors Kempston Con Club Sports. Whilst at their Playing Field headquarters, Stevington will have to be at their very best if they are to overcome the visiting Clifton in an all division three affair.

In the five game programme of Premier Division supported by Sportsform fixtures.The top game comes at Hillgrounds where third place hosts AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College clash with fourth place Arlesey Town Reserves for the second weekend running. Having won at The Armadillo Stadium, the hosts will be looking for a quick-fire double to remain above their visitors in the league table.

Whilst at Lodge Road, second from bottom of the table Sharnbrook’s need for points in their effort to beat the drop will be just as paramount as the visiting league leaders Caldecote needs are in their quest to lift the league title. Meantime, for two of the clubs sitting just outside the title race hoping a good end of season run could still yet make them title challengers. It’s a clash on The Green, where fifth place hosts Ickwell & Old Warden take on sixth place Shefford Town & Campton who travel looking for their fifth league win on the bounce. A positive result either way you would feel will leave the losers out of the title race, whilst a draw would be no good to either club.

Still in that championship mix with their games in hand are seventh place Renhold United, for them its a trip to Hurst Grove to take on a Lidlington United Sports side that are still unbeaten on home soil in league action this season. Whilst just down the road at Marston Playing Fields, hosts Marston Shelton Rovers will be expected to record their first home league win of 2013 when visited by bottom of the table Bedford Sports Athletic.

In Division One, league leaders Shillington face Sandy at Greenfield’s.The hosts looking for their eighth home win on the bounce against a Sandy side whose lone away league win of the season came at second from bottom of the table Kings AFC some three months ago back in early December.

For third place Pavenham it’s trip into Mowsbury Park to face Brickhill Tigers in what could be described as a clash between two out of form clubs. Just the opposite perhaps applying to the Rectory Road encounter between sixth place hosts Shefford Town & Campton Reserves and the visiting fifth place Luton Boys. Whilst at King George VI Playing Fields, second from bottom of the table Kings AFC receive a visit from the only side below them in the league standings when AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves hit the road looking for their first away league point/points of the season in this game number eight.

The game of the day in division two takes place at Crawley Road, the venue at which still unbeaten at home this season Cranfield United Reserves who sit in fifth spot in the league table take on second place Goldington as they both battle for vital points to enhance their respective title/promotion hopes. The same quest applying to Bromham United at their Playing Field headquarters where they look for their fourth home league win on the bounce against the visiting Woburn Athletic who have now gone six league games without a victory to plummet into the bottom half of the league table. In what as now become a rehearsal for this sesons Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup Final.

Over at Weston Park, fellow promotion candidates Eastcotts AFC will be playing just their sixth home league game of the season when visited by a Stopsley Park side who have won just the once on the road all season. Whilst at The Hollow, third from bottom of the table Potton United Reserves look to repair the damage of two consecutive home defeats when called upon by a Westoning side who are yet to win on the road in league action this season and sit just one place above them in the league table.

In division three, it’s action at Mill Lane between current league leaders Potton Town and Great Barford.The hosts looking to take their unbeaten ways up to eight games against a Barford side who will make the short journey sitting just seven points adrift of the Town in fourth spot but having played six games fewer looking for their sixth consecutive league win.

Also in the title/promotion mix are second place Riseley Sports, for them it’s a trip to Cutler Hammer looking for their first away league win in three outings against hosts Kempston Hammers Sports who have recorded just one home league win all season. Whilst down at the other end of the table, basement club Bedford Park Rangers journey to Greenfield Road looking for their first win in 18 league outings against hosts Westoning Reserves and second from bottom of the table Royal Oak Kempston journey to Horseshoes Close to face Dunton surprisingly in search of their third away league win on the bounce.

The final action in this division coming at Jubilee Playing Fields, the venue at which Wilshamstead Reserves will play just their fifth home game of the season against the visiting Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves, who will hit the road looking for their first away win in three outings.

In division four the top action comes at The Warren, the venue at which second place Elstow Abbey Reserves know that the retention of their seasons 100% league home record is vital if the visiting league leaders Bedford Panthers are not to skip out of sight at the head of the table come the final whistle. Whilst for third place Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves it’s a trip to Bedford Road Recreation Ground to be hosted by Sandy Reserves where they look to end a two game losing away run.

Over in Hillgrounds, fourth place Kempston Athletic will be expected to collect all three points when called upon by bottom of the table Wootton Village. A comment that also applies to fifth place Clifton Reserves when at Whiston Crescent they are visited by local rivals Dunton Reserves.

Other action coming at Harvey Close, the venue at which Caldecote A will look for their third home league win on the bounce against the visiting Flitwick Town Reserves whose lone away league win of the season came way back on the opening day of the season at Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves. Plus at Digswell Playing Fields where hosts Shefford Town & Campton A take on Dinamo Flitwick.