Bedfordshire League preview

The spotlight of this weekend’s programme will fall upon the first ever Bedfordshire County Football League Hop which is expected to attract groundhoppers from all parts of the country. The action begins with the Division One meeting at The Warren between still 100% at home Elstow Abbey and their second place table visitors Pavenham who will arrive at The Warren for their first away outing of the season with a perfect record of three wins from their three outings. Kick off for the game being at 11.00am.

The action will then move on to Harvey Close to take in the 2.00pm start for The Premier Division supported by Sportsform game between hosts Caldecote and Marston Shelton Rovers. With the clubs sitting in second and third spots in the league table, a win for either side would at least send them temporarily to the top of the standings. Caldecote defending their season’s 100% home record, whilst The Rovers travel looking for their fifth win on the bounce.

The hop will then conclude with a short journey down the road for the 4.45pm kick off in Division One at Bedford Road Recreation Ground between hosts Sandy and the visiting Brickhill Tigers.The Tigers starting the day in fifth spot just goal difference above their hosts in sixth place.

Away from The Hop the top action of the afternoon falls upon the opening round ties in this season’s Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy where the draw has been far from kind to our clubs. Of the 10 clubs in action 8 are hitting the road, the two lucky clubs to enjoy home advantage are Shefford Town & Campton who at Rectory Road will be expected to ease bye fellow league visitors Sharnbrook but at Moggerhanger Playing Fields hosts Blunham will have their work cut out to overcome local rivals Ickwell & Old Warden and revenge their league defeat on The Green just 21 days ago.

For the other six clubs its opposition from other leagues, Bedford Sports Athletic making the short journey to Weston Park to face United Counties League Division One outfit Wootton Blue Cross. Whilst for the other five the opposition comes from The South Midlands League, on paper Oakley Sports M&DH face the toughest task as their journey is to McMullen Park to take on Division One outfit Bedford whilst the other quartet face clubs from Division Two.

Of the four, the odds look stacked against Wilshamstead who journey to Tenby Drive to face fifth place Kent Athletic and for Lidlington United Sports who venture to Beverley Road to face league leaders The 61FC Luton. However, travelling full of confidence will be Renhold United who head to Dunstable Road to be hosted by mid-table and draw specialists Totternhoe plus Flitwick Town could well give their season another much needed boost when they take on Caddington at Manor Road

Apart from the already mentioned Hop game at Harvey Close there is just one other Premier Division supported by Sportsform taking place when at The Carlsberg Stadium, AFC Biggleswade fresh from their first win of the season host top of the table Arlesey Town Reserves.

In Division One apart from the two Hop games there is action at four other venues, for league leaders Leighton United it’s a visit to their Stanbridge Road base by Henlow who journey looking to end United’s 100% record for the season. Whilst Caldecote Reserves journey to Greenfields still 100% for the season to face a Shillington outfit who in having won their last two home games will fancy their chances of putting a dent into their visitors perfect record.

At the other end of the league table, basement side AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves face no easy task at Hillgrounds to put their first point/points on the board when visited by Lea Sports PSG. Whilst at Chaul End Lane, hosts Luton Boys having lost their last two games take on a Shefford Town & Campton Reserves side whose away record to date this season reads played two, lost two.

Division Two action brings about a home game at Crawley Road for league leaders Woburn Athletic who look for their fourth win on the bounce and preservation of their season’s 100% home record when called upon by Cranfield United Reserves.Whilst Marabese Ceramics having won their last two games to move up into second spot face no easy task to complete the treble when they journey to Mowsbury Park to take on still unbeaten and fourth place Goldington.

Currently sitting third in the league table are Sundon Park Rangers and in Stockwood Park you would expect them to maintain their season’s 100% home record and make it three wins on the bounce against visiting local rivals Stopsley Park who hit the road looking to end a three game losing run and collect their first away point/points of the season.

Over at Oakley Playing Fields, Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves receive a visit from fifth place Eastcotts AFC who will be looking to stretch their unbeaten ways to four games, whilst something must give at Greenfield Road, the venue at which 100% at home Westoning take on 100% away from home St Joseph Reserves.

The days other action in this division comes with still unbeaten at home Bromham United taking on bottom of the table Potton United Reserves at their Playing Fields Headquarters and in Mowsbury Park where second from bottom of the table and yet to win at home Queens Park Crescents host a Meltis Albion side in search of their own first away point/points of the season.

In Division Three, the 100% league leaders Marsh Leys head for a Renhold Playing Field encounter with hosts Renhold United Reserves who although still without a home win to their name this season are nevertheless unbeaten in their last three outings. Whilst for second place Clifton its home action against third place Westoning Reserves at Whiston Crescent, the hosts looking to retain their season’s unbeaten home ways against their visitors who travel still unbeaten this campaign and with a 100% away record.

Over at Jubilee Playing Fields, unbeaten fourth place Wilshamstead Reserves receive a visit from a Stevington side that are yet to be beaten on the road this season and on The Green, Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves commence their home season with a visit from Bedford Park Rangers who will have happy memories of winning the Division Four championship title on their last visit to The Green in April.

Other action comes at Mill Lane, the venue at which hosts Potton Town will start favourites to collect the spoils from the visiting bottom of the table Royal Oak Kempston and over at Gold Street, Riseley Sports defend their season’s 100% home ways when called upon by a Dunton Reserves side that are yet to open their away points tally for the season.

Division Four action sees a second game of the day at The Warren where league leaders Elstow Abbey Reserves will be defending their 100% season’s ways against bottom of the table Caldecote A. Whilst second place Bedford Panthers still 100% themselves head for a Hinksley Recreation Ground meeting against fifth place hosts Dinamo Flitwick.

Currently sitting in third spot are Flitwick Town Reserves, surprisingly they have failed to win on home turf this campaign but may well correct that matter when visited by Wootton Village and for fourth place Kempston Con Club Sports it’s a defence of their 100% season’s home record when Dunton Reserves come calling to their Hillgrounds base.

Also on their way to Hillgrounds are second from bottom of the table Shefford Town & Campton A who journey to meet a yet to win Kempston Athletic who sit just one position above them in the league standings.Whilst the final action takes place at Marston Playing Fields where Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves receive a visit from Clifton Reserves.