Bedfordshire League preview

The centre of attention to The Bedfordshire County Football League programme centres upon the quarter-final games in The Britannia, Centenary and Jubilee Cups plus the last 16 stage ties in The Watson Shield.

In The Britannia Cup, Dunton play hosts to Leighton United at Horseshoes Close.The two league meetings between them this season have finished in a single goal victory for the visitors, results which suggest another close encounter is on the cards before Caldecote become aware of who their opposition will be at the last four stage.

Over at Hillgrounds, AFC Kempston Town receive a visit from Renhold United.Town are now in a rich vein of form and could well provide the days shock result despite United hitting the road still unbeaten on their travels this season.For the winners it’s a semi-final tie against either Oakley Sports or Shefford Town & Campton who meet at Oakley Playing Fields in a tie that will be expected to go the way of the visitors.

Centenary Cup action comes at Miller Road where Bedford Hatters will start the firm favourites to see off the challenge of FC Meppershall and earn a semi-final tie against the winners of the Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves v Marston Shelton Rovers game being played on The Green.

In the other half of the draw, at Cople Playing Fields, Bedford Sports Athletic are playing hosts to a Blunham Reserves outfit they beat 4-0 at the same venue in league action back in mid-November. The winners then to take on either Potton Wanderers or Caldecote Reserves who meet for the second weekend running at Mill Lane,Wanderers the firm favourites to progress.

In the top half of The Jubilee Cup, you would expect both of the host clubs to emerge the victors and meet each other at the last four stage.At The Warren, Elstow Abbey entertain Marabese Ceramics, whilst at King George VI Playing Fields, Kings AFC will be in home action against Kempston Hammers Sports.

In the lower half, action comes at Pirton Recreation Ground where hosts Lea Sports PSG will fancy their chances of netting a win over Clifton to set up a semi-final tussle against either Westoning Recreation Club or Stopsley Park who go head to head at Greenfield Road.

For those still involved in The Watson Shield its action at the last 16 stage. The tie of the round perhaps coming at Stonefields where runaway division four league leaders AFC Turvey take on division three promotion hopeful’s Sharnbrook Reserves. For the winners it will be a home quarter-final game against Clifton Reserves or Goldington who meet in an all division four clash at Whiston Crescent.

Over in Hillgrounds, division three Royal Oak Kempston will start the favourites to overcome division four visitors Sandy Reserves and thus set up another home tie in the quarter-final against Dinamo Flitwick.Whilst the winners of the Renhold Playing Fields clash between hosts Renhold Village and Co-op Sports will have to wait another three weeks before the last of the second round ties between Lea Sports PSG Reserves and Thurleigh is played and their quarter-final opposition becomes known.

Hillgrounds is also the venue for Eastcotts of division four home clash with division three league leaders Pavenham, and should they bring off the shock of the day then their reward will be a home quarter-final tie against either division four Stewartby Village or division three Shefford Town & Campton A who meet each other at Stewartby Way.

Away from the cup action there are a trio of league games taking place in The Premier Division supported by Sportsform division. At Steppingley Road, Flitwick Town look for their third home win on the bounce when they host Caldecote, whilst title contenders Blunham travel to Crawley Road to face home side Woburn who have lost all of their last four home outings.

The final action coming at Lodge Road,the venue for Sharnbrook’s home encounter with Arlesey Town Reserves.With the visitors still without an away win to their name this season you would expect the home side to collect the three points to prevent them joining The Town in a end of season relegation tussle.

Division One league action sees just one game,that comes at Groveside where Henlow look to end a five game run without a win when they host relegation haunted Luton Old Boys who have won just once on the road all season.

Division Two league action is restricted to just two games.In Mowsbury Park, Queens Park Crescents look to extend their unbeaten home ways to five games when visited by a Lidlington United Sports side that are now unbeaten on their last three trips away from Hurst Grove. Whilst Bromham United look for vital promotion points when they travel to Great Barford Playing Fields to face hosts Great Barford.

It’s a four game programme to the division three action.The top game comes at Crawley Road with a clash between two of the promotion hopefuls when Cranfield United Reserves host Sundon Park Rangers.United looking for their first home win in three outings against a Rangers side that has won its last two away outings.

The big clash at the other end of table takes place at Harvey Close where Caldecote A play hosts to Westoning Recreation Club Reserves.With the home side without a win in their last eight and the visitors without a win in their last 11games, this game could go either way.

Elsewhere at Gold Street, hosts Riseley Sports look to return to winning ways on home soil when Dunton Reserves come calling plus at Jubilee Playing Fields, Wilshamstead Reserves search out home win number four on the bounce against Flitwick Town Reserves who have failed to win any of their last seven outings to drop into the relegation mire.

The division four action is also a programme of just four games.The top game coming at Keysoe Road between hosts Thurleigh and their visitors Potton Town.The hosts entering the game looking for their third win on the bounce against a Town outfit unbeaten in their last six starts and both clubs in need of all three points in their quest of division three football next season.

Over in Mowsbury Park, Bedford Park Rangers will be hosting Dinamo Flitwick, the visitors winners of their last five away outings and still in the promotion mix firm favourites to collect the spoils.

The other two games feature sides at the other end of the table, in Mowsbury Park,Goldington Hammers on a three game losing home run take on Kempston Athletic who have yet to win on the road this season.Whilst at Wootton Playing Fields, hosts Wootton Village receive a visit from Lea Sports PSG Reserves.