Bedfordshire League preview

In the Premier Division leaders Renhold United are at home to Leighton United, the hosts having lost just once at the village playing fields this season so they are favourite to collect the three points as Leighton have won only twice on their travels away from Stanbridge Road.

However match of the day could well be at Houghton Conquest playing fields where Wilshampstead, the second placed hosts, face third in the table visitors Blunham. The home side will seek to maintain their season’s unbeaten home run against a Blunham side looking to take their current unbeaten ways to eight games.

With fourth placed Caldecote on Beds FA Senior Trophy quarter-final duty away to Molten Spartan South Midlands League high flyers AFC Dunstable at Creasey Park, Shefford Town & Campton could climb above them should they beat Oakley Sports at their Rectory Road headquarters. With the hosts still unbeaten at home this season and currently on a seven game unbeaten run, it would take a brave man to predict that Oakley, who are without a win in their last five outings, could emerge as the victors.

At Horseshoes Close there’s a local derby between hosts Dunton and bottom of the table rivals Biggleswade United Reserves. You would expect Dunton to collect their second home win on the bounce against a United side that has lost all six of its games away from Second Meadow.

Sharnbrook will host Flitwick Town at Lodge Road with the hosts looking to repair a two game losing run against a visiting Town side which has failed to win any of its last three games.

And at Crawley Road, Woburn will entertain AFC Kempston Town with the Safari Boys looking to take their unbeaten home ways to four games against a Town side that has failed to win any of its last eight matches.

Action for the leading three clubs in Division One is a third attempt to play their outstanding Beds FA Intermediate Cup third round ties.

At Miller Road, Bedford Hatters will be taking on The Ewe & Lamb who play in the Premier Division of the Luton District & South Beds League Football League. The visitors are currently sitting in the lower half of their division so a Hatters win could well be on the cards.

There is an all Bedfordshire County Football League clash between Marston Shelton Rovers and Potton Wanderers, the Rovers having only lost once on home soil this season although they will be seeking to avenge a league defeat from early November.

In the league, basement side Luton Old Boys who are on a four game losing run, are at home to a Henlow side that has lost its last two away games.

There’s a local derby at Moggerhanger Playing Fields where hosts Blunham Reserves take on third from bottom Caldecote Reserves who make the short trek up the A603 looking to end a five game losing run.

Meanwhile at Miller Road, fourth placed side Meltis Albion will be seeking their third home win on the bounce against a visiting Sandy outfit who come in search of their first away win in five outings.

Over at Hillgrounds, AFC Kempston Town Reserves, with just one home win to their name this season, play host to Bedford Sports Athletic, the visitors coming in search of only their second away win.

The final Division One game is on The Green where Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves host Brache Sparta Community Reserves. The hosts will be looking for their first home win of the season and it should come against a Brache side that has picked up just one point from its last six away outings.

For the lower division clubs/teams who had their Beds FA Junior Cup ties postponed last weekend, its a second attempt this week. Three of our sides face games against sides from the Luton District & South Beds Football League, two of which need to travel to Luton.

Pavenham head to Gipsy Lane to face Christians in Sports Reserves whilst Lea Sports PSG Reserves are en route for a meeting with Four Model. And the club who will have home advantage are AFC Turvey who entertain Farley Old Boys Reserves at Stonefields.

Of the five all Bedfordshire County Football League encounters, the top tie on paper is the all division two clash at Cutler Hammer between hosts Kempston Hammers Sports and Lea Sports PSG. A tie in which the visitors on league form will start firm favourites to emerge the winners.

Perhaps however the tie of the round comes at Oakley Playing Fields between hosts M & DH Oakley and their fellow division three counterparts Renhold Village. On league form the hosts are the favourites, but the Village Boys are renowned cup fighters and last seasons beaten finalists,thus should never be written off.

In the other three ties there’s a chance of seeing a spot of giant-killing taking place. In form division three Cranfield United Reserves the best bet, they journey to face division two Bromham United at their Playing Field Headquarters. Whilst you would give division four Potton Town more than half a squeak when they host division two Kings AFC at Sunderland Road Playing Fields in Sandy.

The final tie comes at Mowsbury Park between division four Goldington and division two Elstow Abbey. With the hosts now on a three game winning run, this will be no easy tie for The Abbey Boys.

In Division Two league action, at Hurst Grove, Lidlington United having been beaten just once on home soil this campaign will fancy their chances of the three points when visited by a Queens Park Crescents side that has lost its last two away games despite the visitors arriving as leaders leaders.

Should this happen, it will give an opportunity for Arlesey Social Galacticos to move back to the top of the league standings. Their requirement being the full three points when they journey to The Bedford Hockey Centre to face hosts Harpur FC.

For Stevington, who have won three of their last four home outings, the chances to improve upon that record comes when Clifton with just one win from their last six outings come calling upon them at their Playing Fields headquarters.

Over at Greenfield Road, hosts Westoning Recreation Club will be seeking their first win in five outings against Great Barford who have lost five of their last six away outings. While the final action comes at Digswell Playing Fields, Shefford Town & Campton Reserves taking on Stopsley Park.The Town will be looking for their first win in seven outings against a Park side that has lost its last three.

In Division Three, it’s a trip on the road for promotion seeking Sharnbrook Reserves. They head to Steppingley Road looking for win number five on the bounce against Flitwick Town Reserves.

Also very much in the promotion race are Co-op Sports, for them its home Solway Road North action against Westoning Recreation Club Reserves who travel looking to repair a four game losing away run.

Sundon Park Rangers are another club pushing for promotion,they travel to Gold Street to face Riseley Sports. The Rangers having lost just once on the road this campaign will fancy their chances of the three points against a home side that has won just once from five outings this season on home soil.

Over at Harvey Close, Caldecote A will be in home action against Royal Oak Kempston. The hosts going into the game on a three game losing run against an Oak outfit that has lost its last five league games to slip into the bottom three of the league table.

In Division Four, its home action for two of the leading promotion candidates.Second place Eastcotts hosting Bedford Park Rangers in Hillgrounds where they will be expected to maintain their seasons unbeaten home ways against an Rangers side whose only away win of the campaign came way back in early September, some six outings ago. While fourth place Thurleigh are hosting second from bottom Kempston Athletic at Keysoe Road, the home side are still 100 per cent at home and are favourites to collect the points.

For bottom of the table Wootton Village it’s home action against Dinamo Flitwick. The Village will look for their opening home league point of the season against a Dinamo side who search out away win number four on the bounce to enhance their promotion push.

Over at Whiston Crescent, Clifton Reserves now without a win from their last four home outings, look to repair the damage when visited by Goldington Hammers who have won just twice from six outings on the road this season.

The days final action being at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, the venue for Sandy Reserves home encounter with Stewartby Village. The hosts looking to repair a four game losing run and notch up their first home win of the season against a Village side that has won just once on the road this season.