Bedfordshire League preview: January 10

For second place Renhold United, who trail the leaders by just a single point but with three games in hand, look to preserve their 100% away record when they hit the road to face stern opposition in the shape of sixth place Wootton Blue Cross at Weston Park, the home side currently on a five game unbeaten run.

With games in hand on the top three clubs fourth place Flitwick Town are still very much in the championship chase and for them it’s the quest of away win number four on the bounce when they journey to face 11th place Pavenham, who themselves will be looking for their third consecutive home win to take them ever further away from the drop zone.

Speaking of the drop zone, following the withdrawal of AFC Turvey and the removal of their seasons record Ickwell & Old Warden now find themselves back on the bottom of the league table as they journey to Hillgrounds looking to end a run of four consecutive away defeats against the hosting ninth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College.

Whilst second from bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports will also be hitting the road looking to end a run of three straight away defeats when they head for a Jubilee Playing Fields outing against Wilstead who sit just two points above them in the league standings and who will be looking for just their second home win of the season.

Other action comes at Sharnbrook Upper School the venue at which Eastcotts AFC defeated just once in their last six home outings play hosts to a Caldecote side who following the withdrawal of AFC Turvey will now be looking for their second opening away win of the season and just down the way at Lodge Road, seventh place Sharnbrook winners of their last two outings play host to eighth place Sandy who will be looking for their fifth consecutive away win.

In Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford the pick of the afternoon fixtures perhaps comes at Groveside, the venue at which second place Henlow will welcome fifth place Great Barford who have been beaten just the once on the road this season.

For league leaders Elstow Abbey, now enjoying a six game winning run, it’s home action at the Warren against against second from bottom of the table Marabese Ceramics who have failed to win any of their last eight league outings since winning at Meltis Albion back in mid-October.

For fourth place Meltis Albion now on a three game winning run it’s a trip to Mill Lane to be hosted by ninth place Potton Town. Whilst also on the road will be bottom of the table AFC Harlington in search of their first away point when they journey to Rectory Road to take on third from bottom of the table Shefford Town & Campton Reserves who will be looking to end a run of five consecutive defeats.

Over on the 3G surface at Hillgrounds, seventh place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves play hosts to tenth place Queens Park Crescents who are yet to win on the road this season.

At King George VI Playing Fields, 12th place AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves go in search of just their second home win of the season against the visiting sixth place Riseley Sports who will arrive in search of just their second away win of the season on the back of a four game unbeaten run.

The final action in this section taking place at Cople Playing Fields, the venue at which 11th place Bedford SA play hosts to third place Cranfield United who will be looking to extend their winning ways up to six games in their quest of top flight football next season.

Division Two action sees the league leaders Clapham Sports hitting the road now winners of their last seven outings to face sixth place Wootton Village at their Recreation Ground headquarters. The task of collecting all three points will be far from easy with the Village currently on a five game unbeaten run and beaten just twice on home soil all season.

At Greenfield Road second place Westoning look to take their winning ways up to eight games against the visiting fifth place Elstow Abbey Reserves who will travel in search of their third win on the bounce.

With third place FC Houghton sitting the afternoon out there is a chance for fourth place Stevington to jump above them in the league standings should they take their winning ways up to 10 games when they journey to Harvey Close to be hosted by second from bottom of the table Caldecote Reserves who are currently on a five game losing run.

Over at the Hockey Centre where 12th place Bedford United have won just the twice this season it’s a visit from seventh place Kempston Hammers who have won just the once on the road this season. At their Playing Field headquarters third from bottom of the table Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves look to extend their winning ways up to three games against the visiting ninth place Meltis Albion Reserves who with just one win from their last eight outings have now suddenly dropped into the bottom half of the league table.

Other action comes at Horseshoes Close, the venue at which tenth place Moggerhanger United will go in search of just their second home win of the season against the visiting eighth place Kempston Athletic who look to repair the damage of two consecutive defeats and at Renhold Playing Fields, eleventh place Renhold United Reserves now on a four game losing run receive a visit from bottom of the table Wilstead Reserves who are still in search of their first point/points on the road and their opening league win of the season.

In Division Three with league leaders Lea Sports PSG now on a seven game winning run it will be home action at Pirton Recreation Ground against the visiting sixth place Dinamo Flitwick. Whilst for second place Cranfield United Reserves its the quest to retain their seasons unbeaten home ways and win number five on the bounce when they are called upon at their Crawley Road base by ninth place Shefford Town & Campton A who will be in search of just their third away win of the season.

Meantime third place Atletico Europa, having lost their last two games, go into home Bedford Academy action against the visiting eighth place White Eagles who will make the short journey across town still holding down a seasons 100% away record.

Whilst over at their Football Community Centre base where they still hold down a seasons unbeaten home record fifth place Flitwick Town Reserves face a visit from fourth place and fellow promotion contenders Clifton who will be looking to end a run of three consecutive away defeats.

Also in that said promotion race with their games in hand are seventh place Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves and for them it’s home local derby action on the Green against second from bottom of the table Caldecote U20 who are yet to win on the road this season.

Whilst for bottom of the table Mid Beds Tigers its the quest of home win number one of the season when tenth place FC Serbia call on them at their Sandy Academy base.

The final game in this section coming just down the road at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, the venue at which eleventh place Sandy Reserves search out their first home win of the season against the visiting twelfth place Westoning U20, winners of their last two away outings at White Eagles and Atletico Europa.