Beds League bow out of cup at first hurdle

With goalkeeper Barry Ulyatt suffering a recurrence of his old foot injury in the opening five minutes and thereafter unable to kick, with no replacement goalkeeper on the bench it was always going to be an uphill battle.

The home side took the lead on 13 minutes through Luke Reid and doubled in 21 minutes later through Mical Moore. And but for an outstanding save from home goalkeeper Daniel Crump who denied Kai Griffiths-Shilton thee minutes later, the visitors might have found a way back before half time.

But further goals from Suffolk substitute Craig Jennings in the 68th and 87th minutes sealed the Beds League’s fate.

Division One

POTTON Wanderers Division One lead remains at eight points as they were awarded all three when Blunham Reserves failed to raise a side. Second are Bedford Hatters who, having played four games fewer, kept the pressure up and retained their season’s unbeaten home run with a 5-0 victory over Luton Old Boys. Mark Reed bagged a hat-trick and Simon Pixley a double.

For third placed Marston Shelton – who trail Wanderers by 11 points with three games in hand – there was a 2-1 home win over AFC Kempston Town Reserves. Aaron Franks and Mark Champkin were the scorers, the reply from Justin Sturnilo.

At the other end of the table, Caldecote Reserves eased their relegation fears with a 2-1 victory at near-neighbours Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves thanks to strikes from Joe Jordan and Tom Dupuy, the reply from Robert Gaylor.

Following a run of five games without a win, FC Meppershall returned to form with a 4-3 home victory over Bedford Sports Athletic. Kieron Langley (two), Porrick Walsh and Craig Damon outweighed replies from Asa Mead (two) and Paul Nigro.

Division Two

IT’S all change again in Division Two with Elstow Abbey the new leaders. With Queens Park Crescents under Beds FA suspension and unable to visit The Warren for their scheduled game. It means Abbey were awarded the points, while in an hastily arranged game at bottom of the table Kempston Hammers Sports, they emerged 6-0 winners.

An own goal plus strikes from Ed L’Erario and Dave McCarthy saw them 3-0 up at half time before another from L’Erario and a brace from Jermaine Mills finished the job.

Up into second spot but four points adrif are Westoning Recreation Club who took their current unbeaten run up to six games with a 2-0 win at Clifton.

An own goal plus a strike from Ian Buckingham did the damage.

Just one point behind the Rec Boys but with three games in hand are Kings AFC. They recorded their seventh league win on the bounce thanks to a 5-4 win at Stopsley Park. Josh Clements bagged a hat-trick, Rowan Hazelwood a brace with the replies from Lee Russell (two), Chris Gardner and Matt Palmer.

Starting the day on top of the pile but now down to fourth are Bromham United who were beaten 1-0 at Marabese Ceramics after Nick Hooley netted the only goal.

However perhaps The Abbey’s main challengers for the title are Lea Sports PSG, although they sit in fifth place in the standings, they trail the Abbey by just six points but with four games in hand following their 3-2 win at Lidlington United Sports who were only losing for only the third time on home soil this season. Paul Collins, Liam Trainor and Glen Collins netted the PSG goals against home replies via David Brooks and Kieran Wilks.

The days final game in this section seeing Stevington run out 5-0 home winners over Great Barford, Darren King with a hat-trick plus goals from Richard Howlett and Mark Wharton doing the damage.

Division Three

WITH their nearest rivals Pavenham away on Watson Shield duty, Sharnbrook Reserves stretched their lead at the head of the standings to four points with a 4-0 home win over Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’. Kevin Harris netting a hat-trick alongside a strike from son Jayme.

Meantime, Sundon Park Rangers edged closer into the promotion stakes after they took their unbeaten ways up to nine games with a 3-0 home victory over M & DH Oakley. Matt Conway with a brace plus Luke Evans on the scoresheet.

Co-op Sports promotion hopes took a big knock when they suffered their first defeat in 10 outings, 4-0 away at Renhold Village.Jon Searle with a hat-trick plus Carl Townsend doing the damage.

There was a first away defeat of the season for Cranfield United Reserves, they were beaten 2-0 at Westoning Recreation Club Reserves, an own goal and a strike from Rob Malcom taking the Rec Boys to their first home win in seven outings.

Riseley Sports were defeated for the fifth time on the bounce away from home when beaten 3-0 at Flitwick Town Reserves, Harry Rowlands twice plus Dean Conway finding the back of the net.To complete a full set of home winners on the day, all of whom kept a clean sheet, were Wilshamstead Reserves 1-0 victors over Dunton Reserves thanks to a goal from Richard Frank Jepps.

Watson Shield

PAVENHAM safely made their way into the last four of this seasons competition with a 4-0 home win over Stewartby Village. James Owen twice plus goals from Michael Bates and Stuart Beazley now setting up a meeting with Royal Oak Kempston who emerged penalty shoot-out winners over Dinamo

Flitwick.1-1 after 120 minutes play, Lorenzo Jordan on the scoresheet for The Oak and Brendan Kane for The Dinamo, successful penalties from Oak’s David Bevan, Andrew Palombella, Michael Field and Sean Boland were only replied to by Ben Canning and Dale Goldie.

In the other half of the draw, AFC Turvey needed the requirement of extra time to see off Goldington at Stonefields.The visitors taking the lead via Karl Anderson which was cancelled out five minutes from time by John Guiney, who alongside a strike from Andrew Wren won the day for the home side in extra time.

They will now face either Co-op Sports or Thurleigh who meet in 14 days time following Thurleigh’s 2-1 second round win at Lea Sports PSG Reserves. Ben Stock and Steve Pledge netting the vital goals against a home reply via Ryan Durrant.

Division Four

EASTCOTTS are third in the standings and right there in the promotion mix after netting a 2-1 home win over Sandy Reserves.Tony Milioti and Matty Walsh on the scoresheet against a reply from Nathan Morris.

Potton Town’s promotion hopes took a big knock when they were defeated for the first time in nine outings, 2-1 away at Goldington Hammers, who were thus ending their own run of six straight defeats. Jimmy Jacob and Michael Stafford the home marksmen against a Town reply from James Dean.

At the other end of the table, Kempston Athletic returned to winning ways with a 2-0 home win over bottom of the table Wootton Village, Jamie Marsh netting both goals.

Biggleswade KO Cup

ICKWELL & Old Warden ensured this season’s Biggleswade Knockout Cup Final will be an all Bedfordshire League affair afte; last Thursday’s semi-final win over Langford Reserves at Forde Park. Lee Threadgold put them 2-0 up with strikes in the 16th and 28th minutes before Gareth Boness pulled one back five minutes from half time.

The second period remained goalless despite Ickwell having to play the last 30 minutes with just ten men after Dan Threadgold was red carded for his second yellow card offence of the evening.

Ickwell will now go back to Forde Park for the final on Tuesday, May 2 when they will face either Dunton or Caldecote who meet in the second semi-final at Horseshoes Close on Monday, April 11.

Monday’s night’s action

IN the Britannia Cup at Second Meadow on Monday, trophy holders Caldecote went down 1-0 in the semi-final against Leighton United when Paul Darton struck the game’s only goal 23 minutes in. United will now return to Biggleswade on May 7 to face either Renhold United or Shefford Town & Campton who meet at Kempston’s Hillgrounds in the second semi-final next Wednesday (April 13).

In Division One on Monday, Bedford Hatters failed to close the gap on leaders Potton Wanderers as they lost for the first time in 11 outings at FC Meppershall. Two goals from Craig Damon were replied to by Ben Brown to give the home side a 2-1 victory.

In the lone Division Two action, Lea Sports PSG climbed to second spot just three points shy of leaders Elstow Abbey with a 2-1 win at Great Barford. James Awofisan netted both goals against a home reply from the penalty spot courtesy of Adam Dunville.

In Division Three, second place side Pavenham lost they season’s 100 per cent away record when held to a 1-1 draw at Royal Oak Kempston. Lorenzo Jordan was on the scoresheet for the hosts against a reply from Michael Bates.

Wilshamstead Reserves ran out 4-1 winners at Flitwick Town Reserves after Kieron Colclough sclred twice along with singles for Hani Thiarri and Harry Baker, the reply from Harry Rowlands.

In Division Four, Goldington made it seven away wins on the bounce with a 3-1 victory at Bedford Park Rangers. Karl Anderson, Kieran Bridger and Brian Day all scored against a Rangers’ reply from Shaun Finlay. Potton Town kept themselves in the promotion mix with a 3-2 win at Kempston Athletic. Chris Cooper, Matt Drew and Nick Gilbert netted the goals against Ath replies from Dave Wild and Jason Beddall.