Bedfordshire League round-up

Michael Jones put the hosts ahead on 65 minutes before the Safari Boys’ James McCarthy levelled ten minutes from time.

Shefford are now in fourth spot following wins for Wilshamstead and Blunham, the former club taking over the second spot behind leaders Renhold United after they won 2-1 at Dunton to take their unbeaten ways to seven games. Michael Taylor and Jack Wills netted Wilshamstead’s goals against a Dunton reply from James Cooper.

In third spot are Blunham who extended their 100 per cent home record with a 3-0 win over Flitwick Town thanks to strikes from Andrew Vallom, Steve Thomas and Andy Smith.

At the other end of the table, Biggleswade United Reserves lifted themselves off the bottom rung with a 3-1 home win over Leighton United. Daniel Green, Lucas Banton and Adam Gadzinski were on the scoresheet against a reply from Curtis Doyle.

Biggleswade climb above new bottom placed side Arlesey Town Reserves, who were sitting the afternoon out. AFC Kempston Town now occupy second from bottom spot following their 2-1 home defeat by Sharnbrook. Tom King and Jack Hoogstraten were on the mark for Sharnbrook against a reply from Elliot West.

The day’s final top flight game saw Oakley Sports lose their season’s 100 per cent perfect home record when held to a 1-1 draw by Caldecote. Paolo Barbarisi was on target for the hosts against a reply from Dave Daniels.

Beds Intermeduate Cup

IT was not a good day for Bedfordshire County Football League sides in the second round of the Intermediate Cup with just three making it into the hat for the third round draw. Topping the trio of winners were Potton Wanderers, 4-3 away victors at Luton Leagrave thanks to a Craig Schurek hat-trick plus a goal from Jesse Mayo doing the damage.

For Bedford Hatters it was a 4-2 home win over Henlow. Richard Cook with a brace plus strikes from Mark Reed and Darek Jozwiak were replied to by Joe Follano and Jake Rennie. Marston Shelton Rovers were 4-1 winners at Sandy thanks to Xennon Paul, Aaron Franks, Antony Henman and Gibran Pirbhai with the home reply from Craig Baker.

Meltis Albion meantime were making their exit 4-3 in extra time at Heath Panthers despite a brace from James Pickard and a strike from Daniel Jones.

Losing by the same 4-3 scoreline in normal time were Blunham Reserves at Ewe & Lamb with Daniel Whitton, Paul Damon and Rob Gaylor all netting in vain.

Elsewhere, three other sides all went out 2-1 on home soil. Bedford Sports Athletic had just an Ian Asplin penalty to show in their defeat by Lewsey Park while Caldecote Reserves scorer was Tom Dupuy in their reversal against Langford Reserves.

Lee Threadgold netted the Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves’ goal in their 2-1 defeat on The Green by Farley Boys. For FC Meppershall it was a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Stopsley Common Sports.

And not fairing so well were Luton Old Boys. They were beaten 5-1 at home by Barton Rovers Reserves. Richard Downer was their goalscorer while Brache Sparta Community Reserves went down 6-0 at home by Leighton Town Reserves.

Division Two

QUEENS Park Crescents retained their season’s unbeaten away record and still lead the division by two points following their 9-4 win at Harpur FC. Shezad Sattar netting five, Anij Ali three and Mohammed Rahman once against home replies from Jordan Kurmar (two), Kane Alexander and Jonathon Overden.

Second place Arlesey Social Galacticos had to come from 2-0 down to net a 3-2 win against Stopsley Park. Stuart Lyons and Shane Roberts were on the mark for the Park before a brace from Mark McMillan and a goal from Mark Allam won the day for the Social.

Up into third are Lea Sports PSG who took their unbeaten ways to six games with a 3-1 win at Bromham United. James Awofasan, Martin Collins and Juan Camello were on target against a reply from Phill Kempshall.

Slipping out of the top three but still unbeaten on home soil are Clifton. They were held in a 2-2 draw by Lidlington United Sports. Greg King and Toby McNaught had their goals cancelled out by Alex Burrows and Darren Simms.

At the other end of the table, Kings AFC claimed their first win of the season 4-3 at Elstow Abbey to move off the bottom. Josh Clements with a brace plus strikes from Matthew Clements and Chris Stelling outscored replies from Jermaine Mills (two) and Rob Mirto.

On the bottom rung are Kempston Hammers Sports who were beaten 5-3 at Stevington. Darren King and Aaron Fletcher both hit two to go alongside an own goal against Hammers replies from James Spall, Simon Hughes and Kevin Simcoe.

Westoning Recreation Club meantime retained their 100 per cent away run and moved up to sixth spot with a 3-0 win at Marabese Ceramics. Ian Buckingham, Alex Barnwell and Scott Gadsden scored the goals.

The scheduled Great Barford vessus Shefford Town & Campton Reserves encounter was postponed after Great Barford’s vice-chairman James Shaw was taken seriously ill on the touchline prior to kick off. However we are pleased to say that James is now recovering well in Bedford Hospital.

Division Three

PAVENHAM made it nine wins from nine outings to stay five points clear in Division Three with a 4-1 win at Wilshamstead Reserves. James Owen (two) plus goals from Will McNally and Nick Atkins were replied to by Daniel Burraway.

M&DH Oakley retained their season’s unbeaten ways with a 3-0 win at Royal Oak Kempston to stay second. Adam Emms (two) plus a Scott Rothrey goal did the damage. And following two straight defeats, third place Sharnbrook Reserves returned to winning ways with a 4-2 home win over Cranfield United Reserves thanks to Jordan Baxter (two), Dan Glos and James Whitmore.

Renhold Village meantime failed to chalk up home win number four when held in a 2-2 draw by Sundon Park Rangers. Carl Townsend and Alex Giscombe had their goals cancelled out by Rangers’ Matthew Conway (two).

Still 100 per cent on home soil are Westoning Recreation Club Reserves. They ran out 6-2 winners over Dunton Reserves thanks to braces for John Bass and Liam Boyle and singles strikes by Craig Joyson and James Bennett. Dunton scorers were Nicky Albone and Carl Mercer.

For Co-op Sports it was a first defeat in five outings when beaten 1-0 at Caldecote ‘A’ with Neil Giles grabbing the vital goal. And the final scheduled game in this section saw the match between Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ and Riseley Sports postponed after the hosts failed to raise a side.

Division Four

AFC Turvey continue to top Division Four by three points after retaining their season’s perfect record with a 4-2 home win over Sandy Reserves. John Guiney (two), Martin Page and Tim Clarke were on target with Sandy’s replies from Brad Dennis and David Harris.

Thurleigh made it five wins on the bounce in a 6-0 romp at Wootton Village to stay second. Steve Pledge (two), Mikey Peters, Dan Newton, Owen Layton and Ben Stock did the damage.

Eastcotts are still 100 per cent for the season at home after going nap in a 5-0 victory over Goldington Hammers. Michael Sexton and Adam Jaques both socred twice and Ben Eagles once.

In fourth are Goldington who suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat at Dinamo Flitwick. Carl Anderson and Alan Cudjoe saw their goals outscored by Mark Funnel, Barrie Lee Hannam and Dale Goldie.

After three straight defeats, Bedford Park Rangers returned to winning ways with a 6-3 victory over Clifton Reserves thanks to braces fom Loz James and Shaun Finlay and singles for Roger Goff and Josh Geary.

Following three wins on the bounce it wasn’t a good day for Potton Town. They lost 2-1 at Lea Sports PSG Reserves where Ryan Durrant and Grant Mitchell were on target against a reply from James Pyman.

Bottom of the table Kempston Athletic shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Stewartby Village. Ben Norrish was on target for the hosts against a Village reply from Ben Sparks.