Hayday’s hat-trick helps Shefford to close in on Premier leaders

Colin Marshall, Michael Taylor and Jack Wicks all scored twice alongside a single from Paul Jones while the Wobur replies came from Ryan Chesters and James McCarthy.

Up into second on goal difference are Shefford Town & Campton. They won 3-2 at Flitwick Town thanks to an Andy Hayday first half hat-trick which gave them a 3-0 advantage at the break.

Then an own goal from Ricky Smith plus a strike from Steve Parkhouse reduced the arrears in the second period.

Meanwhile Blunham took their unbeaten run to ten games and maintained their season’s unbeaten home record with a 4-0 victory over Arlesey Town Reserves.

Zak Rowe (two), an Andrew Vallom penalty and a goal from Steve Thomas kept the reigning champions on course for a second consecutive title.

At Harvey Close, Caldecote were held to a 1-1 home draw by bottom of the table AFC Kempston Town.

Dave Daniels gave the hosts the lead in the opening half but Matty Smith levelled it 20 minutes into the second period.

Elsewhere Leighton United saw their season’s unbeaten home record destroyed by Dunton.

A goal by David Pugh on 65 minutes was enough to take the three points back to Horseshoes Close.

The day’s final game also went the way of the visitors, Oakley Sports winning 2-1 at Sharnbrook with Ray Patrickson and Justin Patterson on target for the Sportsmen against a home reply from Harry Arherton.

Division One

THE Division One title is well and truly wide open after leaders Potton Wanderers were beaten 2-1 at Bedford Hatters.

The Hatters are now just eight points adrift but with four games in hand.

Darek Jozwiak and Scott Alleyne netted the goals to preserve their sides 100 per cent home record against a reply from Craig Schurek but it failed to prevent the Wanderers falling to their first defeat in eight outings.

Keeping the pressure up on the pair are second placed Marston Shelton Rovers who ran out 2-1 home winners over FC Meppershall.

Lee Dudley gave them an early second half lead before Craig Damon levelled ten minutes later while it was Dean Clark who restored Rovers’ lead.

The hosts’ task of holding onto the points was made all the easier by the sending off of Ben Williams shortly afterwards.

For fourth placed Meltis Albion, it was an end to their four game unbeaten ways when defeated 2-0 at bottom of the table Luton Old Boys for whom Chris Downer and Simon Glass netted the vital goals.

Making a return to winning ways after seven straight defeats were AFC Kempston Town Reserves. They ran out 2-1 home winners over Blunham Reserves for whom it was a fourth consecutive defeat.

Aaron Fabey and Jesse Sidhu were the Town’s marksman against a reply from Steve Goodman.

Elsewhere Sandy ended their run of five games on the road without a victory with a 3-2 win at Henlow. Daniel Stafford netting all three goals against home replies from Adam Covell and Joe Fallano.

On The Green, a brace from Dan Threadgold failed to save Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves from being beaten 4-2 by Bedford Sports Athletic.

Division Two

NEW Division Two leaders are Clifton following a 1-0 away win at previously unbeaten at home Great Barford. However they left it late as Tony Norman netted the only goal with the very last kick!

Dropping back to second are Arlesey Social Galacticos who were held to a 3-3 draw at Lidlington United Sports.

Darren Sims, Ben Marwood and Chris Roberts were on target for the hosts against Social replies from Chris Kennedy (two) and Lee Shambrook.

Also suffering a promotion setback were Bromham United. A goal from Adam Cranny was their only mark on the scoresheet in a 3-1 home defeat by Queens Park Crescents who were ending a five game losing away run.

The biggest winners of the day were Marabese Ceramics. They won 6-0 at bottom of the table Kempston Hammers Sports thanks to Denver Donaldson (two), Lou Marabese, Darren Payne, Andre Bonadeas and Nick Hooley.

Meanwhile life gets no better for Stevington away from home. They were beaten for the seventh consecutive time 1-0 at Kings AFC for whom Chris Greene netted the goal to take his side to their fourth home win on the bounce.

The day’s final game in this section saw Westoning Recreation Club win 2-1 at Stopsley Park with Scott Gadsden and Glen Cooksley on target against a home reply from Shane Roberts.

Division Three

WITH leaders Pavenham away on Beds FA Junior Cup duty, second placed Sharnbrook Reserves failed to take advantage as they lost 4-3 at Sundon Park Rangers who duly moved up into fourth place and put themselves right back in the promotion race.

Nick Buttigieg, Matt Conway, Luke Evans and Samuel Kehinde netted for the Rangers’ goals against replies from Ryan Massey, Brad Miles and Darren Wallinger.

Also back in the promotion mix are M & DH Oakley. They ended a three game losing run with a 2-1 home victory over Caldecote ‘A’ thanks to Jamie Underwood and Nicolo Mattia, the reply from Neil Giles.

Slipping up were fifth placed Co-op Sports who were held to a 2-2 home draw by Flitwick Town Reserves.

Sam Cooper and Kerry Smith were both on target against a brace in reply from Town’s Ryan Short.

At the other end of the table, bottom side Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ came up with a 3-0 victory at Dunton Reserves thanks to Connor Best, Ryan Moore and a Craig Palmer penalty.

However there was no joy for second from bottom of the table Westoning Recreation Club Reserves who were beaten 4-2 at home by Royal Oak Kempston.

They were enjoying their first away win of the season thanks to Lorenzo Jordan (two), Gareth Arzu and Darren Minney against a brace in reply from Liam Boyle.

In the day’s final Division Three game, bang went Riseley Sports’ unbeaten away record when beaten 2-0 at Wilshamstead Reserves. Matt Johnson bagged both goals.

Division Four

WITH leaders AFC Turvey on Beds FA Junior Cup duty, second placed Goldington moved to within six points of the them – albeit having played a game more – following a 7-1 home win over new basement boys Wootton Village.

Karl Anderson netted four times and Damien Quigley threeagainst a lone Village reply from Neil Spencer.

Moving off the bottom are Kempston Athletic who were 3-0 winners at home to Bedford Park Rangers thanks to Jamie Marsh, Dee Sayid and Jason Beddall.

For third placed Eastcotts it was a shock 2-1 defeat at Stewartby Village. Tom Wheelhouse and Sam Scutchings netted for the Village against a Ben Eagles reply.

Clifton Reserves were taking their home unbeaten ways to five games with a 4-1 victory over fourth in the table Thurleigh after Greg King netted all four against a lone reply from Liam Bolton.

Dinamo Flitwick and Lea Sports PSG Reserves shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw after Dale Goldie was on target for the hosts against a reply from Marco Fialla.

Alas for Sandy Reserves, two goals from Nathan Morris failed to save them from a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Goldington Hammers who were winning for the first time in six outings.

Beds FA Junior Cup

WE now know this season’s Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup will once again be an all Bedfordshire County Football League affair after a lone goal from Martin Collins took Lea Sports PSG to a 1-0 home win over Luton District & South Beds League side Four Model to earn them a spot in this season’s semi-finals.

Also into the last four are Pavenham who inflicted the first defeat of the season on AFC Turvey with a 2-1 victory at Stonefields.

James Owen netted both goals against a Saimur Guri penalty in reply.

Renhold Village needed extra time to see off Potton Town 4-2 after the opening 90 minutes had seen the sides deadlocked at 2-2.

Michael Luke, Simon Wade, Carl Townsend and Daniel Luke were on target for the Villagers against Town replies from James Day and Chris Moore.

The final tie also went into extra time before Elstow Abbey emerged 3-1 victors over Cranfield United Reserves. Adam Kerr put United 1-0 ahead with just 12 minutes left only to see Craig Cameron level three minutes from time.

But first period strikes from Jason Harrison and Ashley Windridge won the day for Abbey.