Blunham in seventh heaven as they thrash Oakley’s Sportsmen

Andrew Vallom scored the only goal in the opening half before his teammates suddenly came alive in the closing 20 minutes when Blunham netted a further six goals.

Andy Smith bagged a hat-trick while there was a brace from Steve Thomas and another strike from Glen Tumulty.

Flitwick Town returned to winning ways for the first time in seven outings with a 3-1 home victory over an Arlesey Town Reserves who have yet to win away from the Armadillo Stadium this season.

Dean Warren hit two and Chris Bull the other.

The other four scheduled fixtures – Leighton United v AFC Kempston Town, Renhold United v Shefford Town & Campton, Sharnbrook v Dunton plus Wilshamstead v Caldecote – were all wiped out due to waterlogged pitches.

Division One

IN Division One three games managed to beat the weather. Bedford Hatters took full advantage thanks to non-playing of Potton Wanderers and Marston Shelton Rovers by winning 6-0 at Henlow.

It meant they closed the gap on their rivals to five and two points respectively. Darek Joswiak completed a hat-trick while there were strikes from Aran Izzard, Simon Pixley and Richard Cook and it means that Hatters unbeaten run is now seven games.

And unbeaten in their last nine starts are Sandy following a 4-1 victory at bottom of the table Luton Old Boys. Daniel Stafford (two), Phil Beall and Charlie Seward scored the goals with the reply from Stephen O’Dell.

Fourth placed Meltis Albion enjoyed a 4-0 home win over Blunham Reserves with Kevin Butler getting a hat-trick while Asa Garlick was also on the scoresheet. The win lifted Albion’s current unbeaten home run to six games.

The other three scheduled games – FC Meppershall v Caldecote Reserves, Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves v Potton Wanderers and Marston Shelton Rovers – were all postponed.

Division Two

THE result of the day belonged to Elstow Abbey who made it five home wins on the bounce with a 3-0 victory over league leaders Clifton. It also keeps the Abbey well and truly in the promotion mix.

Craig Cameron opened the scoring on 70 minutes before two goals from Ashley Windridge in the closing 15 sealed the points.

With second placed Queens Park Crescents game at Kempston Hammers Sports postponed, Lea Sports PSG are now within a point of them in the standings after they retained their seasons 100 per cent home run with a 2-0 win over Stevington. Liam Trainor scored from the penalty spot to open the scoring in the first half before Rory Smith made it 2-0 20 minutes from time.

Now up in the promotion mix are Kings AFC. They were 4-1 winners at home to Bromham United with their sixth win on the bounce. Josh Clements bagged a hat-trick while Chris Greene got the other, the reply from United’s Keith Thomas.

Arlesey Social Galacticos suffered another big dent in their promotion hopes as they crashed 5-1 at Shefford Town & Campton Reserves.

Sam Larsen opened the scoring in the first half for the hosts who then duly blitzed four goals in the second period thanks to Larsen again, Paul Still, Kieron O’Toole and Lee Bilcock before Mark Allam bagged a late Social consolation.

The day’s other games – Great Barford v Westoning Recreation Club and Lidlington United Sports v Marabese Ceramics – were both postponed.

Division Three

THE Division Three action commenced on Friday evening when Cranfield United Reserves enjoyed a 3-1 home win over Flitwick Town Reserves.

First half goals from James Armstrong and Peter Kerr saw them lead 2-0 lead before Town’s Richard Davison reduced the arrears eight minutes from time.

But alas for the visitors, a penalty was converted by Armstrong two minutes from time to seal the points for the Crawley Road outfit.

Of the three games to go ahead on Saturday, M & DH Oakley kept themselves in the promotion mix with a 3-2 home win over bottom of the table Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’.

Adam Emms, Ben Johson and Daniel Lupton all found the back of the net against replies from Wayne Haxton and Kieron Best.

However the biggest Division Three winners on the day were Riseley Sports who beat Caldecote ‘A’ 5-1.

Jimmy Grandidge was on target four times and Clive Collyer once against a reply from Caldecote’s Jack Boyd.

Over at Greenfield Road, Westoning Recreation Club Reserves – following four straight defeats – ended the sequence with a 2-2 home draw against Renhold Village.

Ryan Curl and Rob Barnard were on target for the hosts against Village replies from Simon Wade and Carl Townsend.

The games between Dunton Reserves v Royal Oak Kempston, Pavenham v Sharnbrook Reserves and Sundon Park Rangers v Wilshamstead Reserves all failed to beat the weather.

Division Four

WITH second placed Goldington’s home Mowsbury Park venue waterlogged off, they sacrificed home advantage to travel and face league leaders AFC Turvey on their own Stonefields patch.

And alas it ended in a 5-2 defeat which allowed Turvey to go nine points clear at the top of the table.

Martin Page, Daniel Bailey, John Guiney, Mike Stephenson and a Salmir Guri penalty kick ensured their club remained 100 per cent for the season against replies from Robert Brown and Damion Quigley.

The day’s only other Division Four match to go ahead saw Stewartby Village pick up a 1-0 home win over Bedford Park Rangers thanks to a John Steele strike.

And the games to fall by the wayside were: Clifton Reserves v Eastcotts, Goldington Hammers v Thurleigh, Kempston Athletic v Lea Sports Reserves, Potton Town v Dinamo Flitwick and Sandy Reserves v Wootton Village.

Tomorrow’s action

IN the Premier Division there is a home game for league leaders Shefford Town & Campton against Sharnbrook. The will be hosts defending their season’s unbeaten home record against a visiting Sharnbrook side that hits the road with a 50 per cent win strike record away from their Lodge Road base this season.

At Harvey Close, Caldecote having been beaten just once on home soil this season, face fellow championship contenders Wilshamstead in what in effect is a must win game for both clubs.

For the other leading title contender in action, Blunham, it’s a trip to Hillgrounds to take on an AFC Kempston Town side that badly requires points in their quest to avoid relegation at the other end of the table.

With Blunham on an 11 game unbeaten run, you would perhaps still fancy them to collect the spoils despite The Town being unbeaten in their last three home starts.

Oakley Sports will hosts to Woburn and on home soil the Sportsmen have been beaten twice this season, whilst the visitors are now without a win in their last five outings,results which suggest this game will go the way of the home side.