County Cup success for Beds League clubs

At Cople’s Grange Lane, Bedford Sports Athletic edged past Luton District & South Beds League side Farley Boys by the odd goal in seven.

They took the lead after just two minutes with a goal from Andrew Latimer and penalty from Ashley Mead while 60 seconds later Mead struck from 35 yards out for 3-0 two minutes ahead of the break.

The visitors, having put Marston Shelton Rovers out of the competition in the previous round, fought back and with goals from Brendon Fields and Steven Snoxall in the opening 15 minutes of the new half and were now right back in the contest until Latimer struck again 12 minutes from time to take his side 4-2 clear. But Snoxall netted his second of the afternoon in the 88th minute to bring up the final 4-3 scoreline.

Also knocking out opposition from the same league were Ickwell & Old Warden. For them it was a 3-1 home win over Christians in Sport thanks to Jamie Scotcher, Zak Rowe and an Andrew Vallom penalty doing the damage.

For FC Meppershall there was a fine 5-2 home win over Spartan South Midlands League side Kent Athletic Reserves. Kerion Langley netted a hat-trick and Craig Damon a brace to bring up the nap hand.

Alas for Caldecote Reserves they only had a Dan Hall penalty to show for a 4-1 home defeat by 61FC Luton Reserves. Kings AFC were less lucky as they went down 4-0 at home against Crawley Green Reserves who, like The 61FC Luton, ply their trade in the Spartan South Midlands League.

Premier Division

CALDECOTE’S lead at the top of the Premier Division is down to just three points after they were held to a 2-2 draw at Oakley Sports. Shaun Barnett put the hosts ahead after 20 minutes before Jamie Lally doubled the scoreline on the hour. But late strikes from Tom Cookman and Kyle Griffiths-Shilton saved the league leaders unbeaten tag for the season.

For second-placed side Bedford Hatters, it was a fifth win on the bounce and a 2-0 home victory over bottom of the table Woburn with Ashley Deverall netting both, the result leaving the Safari Boys pointless on their travels.

Up to third are Shefford Town & Campton follwing a 6-0 home drubbing of Sharnbrook. All the goals came inside a 25 minute period during the second half, Michael Jones and Andrew Hayday netting two apiece alongside strikes from Tom Scurfield and Adam Larsen.

Losing third spot were Arlesey Town Reserves after they were beaten 2-1 away to Renhold United for whom Jason Allison netting both goals, the Blues reply from Charlie Marshall.

Also losing ground were Blunham who were beaten for only the second time on home soil, 4-1 by a AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. The visitors are unbeaten in their last five trips thanks to David Kane (two), Paul Obuch and Thomas Behan, Blunham’s reply from Andy Smith.

At the other end of the table, Dunton are now without a win in their last eight matches and remain second from bottom after sharing a goalless home draw with Wilshamstead.

Division One

WITH Ickwell & Old Warden away on County Cup duty, Lidlington United Sports took full advantage to climbed above them into second spot with a 4-1 home victory over Westoning. Alex Burrows and Ben Marwood both netting twice to retain United’s unbeaten home ways, the lone reply from Tom Smith.

Also climbing the table to four spot are Sandy. There was a sixth win on the bounce thanks to a 3-1 victory at AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves with Daniel Stafford (two) and Ian Hammett the scorers against a reply from Adam Fraser.

Back in to the top six are Henlow thanks to goals from Russell Ayles and Jo Follano which took their unbeaten ways to three games in a 2-2 draw at Luton Boys, for whom Richardo Green and Jason Blake were on taret.

Division Two

GOAL-difference is still all that separates Elstow Abbey from AFC Turvey in Division Two after both enjoyed away wins.

For leaders Elstow they won 3-1 at Marabese Ceramics after going 2-0 ahead at the break with goals from Dave McCarthy and Danny Pilgrim. A second strike from McCarthy took them three goals clear until a late penalty from Luke Deards reduced the arrears.

Turvey retained their 100 per cent away record with a 4-1 win at bottom of the table Great Barford. Andrew Wren netting twice alongside Mark Allen and Adam Broughton, the home reply from Mark Harlow.

Third-placed Sundon Park Rangers lost ground after they had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 2-2 home draw with Shefford Town & Campton Reserves. Sam Chapman and Edward Lewis were on the scoresheet for Rangers against Town replies from Matthew Allen and Shaun Jenkins.

It wasn’t a good day for Pavenham as they lost 1-0 at home to second from bottom Clifton for whom Steve Albone netted the vital goal.

Fifth placed side Queens Park Crescents drew 2-2 at Bromham United with Ayaz Hussain and Mehrbaan Hussain their goalscorers, United’s replies from Phill Kempsell and Dave Baxter.

Sitting sixth are Co-op Sports who beat Potton United Reserves 2-0 thanks to goals from Thomas Furr and Chris Vardy. And despite two goals from Rob Wilson and a strike from Simon Richards, Stopsley Park were beaten 4-3 at home by M&DH Oakley.

Division Three

GOLDINGTON’S Division Three lead is down to just a single point after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by new third placed side Renhold Village. Mo Banda was on the scoresheet for Village against the home reply from Justin Muircroft, the result stretching Goldington’s unbeaten ways to seven games.

Up to second are Cranfield United Reserves who made it eight games unbeaten with a 4-1 victory at Royal Oak Kempston. Simon Wade (two), David Adderson and James Armstrong were the scorers with the reply from Lorenzo Jordan.

Slipping to fourth are Stevington after a 3-1 home defeat at Riseley Sports who remain unbeaten on the road. Tom Ellison, George Crawley and Andrew Patching were on visitors scoresheet against a home reply from Jon Devereux.

Having lost their last two away games, Sundon Park Rangers Colts returned to form on the road with a 6-2 victory at Westoning Reserves. An Ashley Wadhams hat-trick, two from Dan Roche and a single for Robert Smith did the trick against a brace in reply from Gareth White.

Also returning to winning ways on the road were Potton Town. They won 5-1 at Dunton Reserves thanks to Chris Moore, Chris Cooper, Matt Drew, Tom Pyman and James Pyman, the lone reply from Liam Brophy.

Still on the march are Wilshamstead Reserves with a fourth consecutive victory, this time 3-1 home to Kempston Hammers Sports. John Steele struck twice and Keiron Colclough once against a Hammers reply from Mick Freeman.

Very much keeping their promotion hopes alive are Eastcotts AFC following a 2-1 home win over Flitwick Town Reserves thanks to Michael Sexton’s double, the Town reply from Kevin Higby.

Division Four

BEDFORD Park Rangers remain three points clear in Division Four and remain 100 per cent on the road after winning 3-1 at Kempston Athletic. Stephen Walsh, Nick Lushi and Matthew Westwood were on the scoresheet against an Ath reply from Dee Sayid.

For Thurleigh it was their win sixth on the bounce a 4-0 home success over a Sandy Reserves side that was losing for the first time on the road in six outings. Brothers Patrick and David Mulvihill gave Thurleigh a 2-0 half time lead before a goal from Josh Pierre St Clare and a Dan Newton penalty doubled the scoreline in the second period.

Holding onto third are Marsh Leys after two goals from Jamie Frear alongside strikes from Jarvis Anderson and Shaun Gilbert saw them as 4-0 home winners over a Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ that was losing for the first time in six outings.

Dropping out of the top three to fourth were Stewartby Village after they were held to a 3-3 draw at Dinamo Flitwick. Ryan Collis (two) and Ben Sparks were on the mark for the Village against replies from Barrie Lee Hannam, Jamie Burton and Brendan Kane, the single point being enough to lift the hosts off the bottom!

That position is now being taken up by Dunton ‘A’ who suffered a 1-0 defeat at Wootton Village for whom Ryan Stocker netted an 80th minute penalty winner.

At Harvey Close, Caldecote ‘A’ lost their season’s unbeaten home tag when a late goal from Matthew McCartney took local rivals Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves to a 1-0 victory.

Clifton Reserves are now without a win in six after being beaten 3-2 at home by Bedford Panthers for whom Richard Suberwal, Ashley Farooqui and Michael Bailey netted the goals, replies both coming from Clifton’s Nick Thomas.