Bedfordshire League preview

Preview for Saturday, September 15

This weekend’s action in The Premier Division supported by Sportsform sees AFC Biggleswade having lost their opening two games to drop to the bottom of the league table in home action at The Carlsberg Stadium when visited by newly promoted and still unbeaten Marston Shelton Rovers. Whilst on The Green, its a battle between two of the other newly promoted clubs when early league leaders Ickwell & Old Warden play hosts to Bedford Sports Athletic.

The fourth promoted club Lidlington United Sports are also still unbeaten and hit the road for a Moggerhanger Playing Fields encounter with yet to gain a point Blunham. Whilst over at Steppingley Road, Flitwick Town secured just four home wins all season last term and the task of opening their account for season 2012-13 brings a visit from Caldecote whom you feel would be favourites to collect the spoils.

Over at The Armadillo Stadium, third place Arlesey Town Reserves play hosts to Renhold United in a game that should give us an indication to whether Town are likely to be championship challengers this term. Whilst just down the way at Rectory Road, Shefford Town & Campton who remained unbeaten on home soil last season will be expected to get the better of visitors Wilshamstead despite them only collecting just a single point from their opening two games in defence of their league title.

The final top-flight action taking place at Miller Road, the venue at which still 100% and second place Bedford Hatters host AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. Both last seasons clashes ended in draws and again another close encounter looks on the cards.

In Division One, the pick of the fixtures looks to be the Stanbridge Road encounter between hosts and early league leaders Leighton United who take on a Lea Sports PSG side that ended season 2011-12 unbeaten in their last 10 away outings. Whilst at The Warren, Elstow Abbey who remained unbeaten on home soil in their division two championship season take on Henlow looking to put their opening day defeat at Shefford Town & Campton Reserves behind them.

Over at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, Sandy surprisingly have failed to win any of their last eight league outings but could well put that right when called upon by Shefford Town & Campton Reserves. Whilst at Greenfields, Shillington are visited by Luton Boys.

For Pavenham, its home action at their Playing Field headquarters against Brickhill Tigers and at Hillgrounds, AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves commence their home season with a visit from the only club below them in the early league standings Kings AFC.

The Division Two fixture list for the weekend brings about some intriguing games. At Crawley Road, newly promoted Cranfield United Reserves receive a visit from just relegated Meltis Albion. Whilst at the other Crawley Road, Woburn Athletic who under their plain name of Woburn were members of the premier division last season face just relegated from division one Westoning.

At Weston Park, its a clash between two of the newly promoted clubs when Eascotts AFC play hosts to a Goldington side they did the double over last season and for local derby action you need to be at Lothair Road Recreation Ground for the meeting between hosts Stopsley Park and their visitors St Joseph Reserves.

Other division two action comes in Mowsbury Park where Queens Park Crescents open their home season against Marabese Ceramics and in Stockwood Park, the venue for the clash between hosts Sundon Park Rangers and Bromham United. It was only their indifferent home form that prevented The Rangers being serious title challengers last season but with United having ended last season unbeaten in their last four away outings they will be no easy pushovers.

No less intriguing are the set of Division Three fixtures. In Mowsbury Park, last seasons division four champions Bedford Park Rangers take on last season division four runners-up Marsh Leys looking to repeat last seasons double over The Leys. Whilst at Whiston Crescent, newly relegated Clifton face no easy game when visited by a Riseley Sports side that remained unbeaten on the road until mid-February last season.

For two other newly relegated clubs its trips on the road, Great Barford heading to Cutler Hammer to be hosted by Kempston Hammers Sports and Dunton making their way to Jubilee Playing Fields to take on Wilshamstead Reserves.

Over at Mill Lane where Potton Town were defeated just three times last season the visitors are Westoning Reserves and at Renhold Playing Fields, Renhold United Reserves go into local derby action against Stevington.

The final action in this division takes place at Hillgrounds, the venue at which Royal Oak Kempston take on newly promoted Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves.

In Division Four its a programme of six games. At Harvey Close, Caldecote A commence their delayed start to the season with a visit from Wootton Village and at Hinksley Road, Dinamo Flitwick will look to put behind them their two defeats to date when visited by Shefford Town & Campton A.

For Elstow Abbey Reserves,its a trip to Hillgrounds to be hosted by Kempston Athletic and for fellow league newcomers Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves its home Marston Playing Field action against Sandy Reserves.

Hillgrounds is also the venue at which Kempston Con Club host Flitwick Town Reserves, whilst the final action takes place at Horseshoes Close where Dunton Reserves receive a visit from local rivals Clifton Reserves.

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