Bedfordshire League preview: October 25

Whilst second place Shefford & Campton Town are on their travels looking to maintain their own unbeaten away ways at Lodge Road against the hosting sixth place Sharnbrook.

Just down the road from Lodge Road at Sharnbrook Upper School eighth place hosts Eastcotts AFC will look to extend their unbeaten home ways up to four games when visited by third place AFC Oakley M&DH and not so many miles away at their own Playing Fields base second from bottom of the table Pavenham receive a visit from Wilstead.

Elsewhere over at Hurst Grove, bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports will be searching out their first win of the season against the visiting fifth place Flitwick Town. Whilst at Weston Park tenth place hosts Wootton Blue Cross go looking for their third home win on the bounce when called upon by seventh place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College but it will not be easy as the Town are still unbeaten on their travels this season.

For Caldecote and fourth place Marston Shelton Rovers its a second meeting inside three weeks when they clash at Harvey Close having played out a 2-2 draw on the Rovers patch and Bedford Road Recreation Ground is the venue for Sandy’s home encounter with the still unbeaten away from home AFC Turvey.

In Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford action league leaders Henlow will be in home action at Groveside looking to preserve their seasons 100% home record against the visiting sixth place Meltis Albion who will hit the road in search of their first away point/points of the season. Yet perhaps the stand out match of the afternoon comes at Stockwood Park Athletic Track where fourth place Sundon Park Rangers play hosts to the visiting third place Cranfield United.

Over at Dallow Road it will be a major surprise if second place visitors Elstow Abbey fail to collect the full three points from their journey to face bottom of the table Brache Sparta and New Grounds is the destination Riseley Sports head to in search of their first away point/points of the season against the hosting second from bottom of the table AFC Harlington.

For Bedford SA at Grange Road its the search of their first home point/points of the season but the visitors are fifth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves who have won all four of their opening away league games of the season.

Other action comes at Ickleford Playing Fields, where third from bottom of the table Marabese Ceramics entertain eighth place AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves. Whilst at their Hitchin Road headquarters Shefford Town & Campton Reserves look for just their second home win of the season against the visiting Potton Town.

Mowsbury Park is the venue of the final game in this division where ninth place Queens Park Crescents play hosts to seventh place Great Barford.

The main spotlight this weekend for the lower division sides falls upon the ties in the second round of this seasons Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup. With cup football there comes the chance of a spot of giant-killing with the draw throwing up five ties where Division three sides take on Division Two opposition alas just one FC Serbia have been granted a home tie, Caldecote Reserves being their visitors to the Bedford Academy but with the hosts being unbeaten in their last three home starts they will more than fancy their chances of making it into the hat for the round three draw.

Of those lower division sides hitting the road perhaps the best chance of an upset comes at Wootton Recreation Ground where hosts Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves will face Clifton.Whilst Cranfield United Reserves on their visit to Miller Road to take on Meltis Albion Reserves and Atletico Europa en route to Greenfield Road to be hosted by Westoning will not lack confidence in their ability to become giant-killers.The toughest task would seem to face Westoning U20 who journey to Cutler Hammer to be hosted by Kempston Athletic.

There are also four all Division Two encounters, in those ties you would certainly favour home advantage to pay off at the Warren where Elstow Abbey Reserves welcome Kempston Con Club Sports, especially after their big league win over them earlier in the month and at Moore Crescent, the venue at which FC Houghton host Renhold United Reserves but in the other two ties perhaps the visitors will start the day favourites.Those visitors being Wootton Village who travel to Horseshoes Close to take on Moggerhanger United and Stevington who make tracks for a Jubilee Playing Fields outing against Wilstead Reserves.

Meantime there is just one all Division Three encounter, the venue being Rectory Road where Shefford Town & Campton A play hosts to White Eagles.

Elsewhere it’s opposition from the Luton District & South Beds League for another four sides. Bedford United have been favoured with a home game at the Hockey Centre against FC Polina whilst the other trio will be hitting the road. Clapham Sports en route to face Caddington Rangers Reserves, Kempston Hammers Sports heading for a meeting with Sporting St James and Caldcote A off to Lancott Park to take on Square A.

The final tie sees Mid Beds Tigers on the road to Clements End Road to be hosted by Aylesbury & District League side FC Spandits.

With all this cup action taking place there are just three division three fixtures this weekend. At Redborne School on the 3G surface fourth plae Dinamo Flitwick will be expected to retain their seasons unbeaten home ways when called upon by bottom of the table Moggerhanger United Reserves who are yet to gain a point on the road this season. Whilst just down the road at the Community Football Centre, fifth place Flitwick Town Reserves go about preserving their own unbeaten home ways against the visiting third from bottom of the table Sandy Reserves.

The final game comes on the Green, the venue at which tenth place Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves play hosts to the yet to win on the road this season Lea Sports PSG.