Looking ahead in the County League

Premier Division supported by Sportsform action this weekend will see current league leaders Arlesey Town Reserves hitting the road to Marston Playing Fields for an encounter with still 100% at home and third place Marston Shelton Rovers who will perhaps fancy their chances of sending The Blues to their first defeat of the season.

Whilst over at Renhold Playing Fields, fourth place Renhold United still boast a 100% home record for the season and with their visitors Bedford Hatters having failed to win any of their last three league outings one would expect them to gain another three points and inch ever closer to the summit of the league table.

For fifth place Ickwell & Old Warden, having lost their last two league outings its a trip to Hurst Grove to face seventh place Lidlington United Sports whose home record of played two, won two, suggests things will be far from easy. Whilst at Hillgrounds, sixth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College will be fully expecting to extend their unbeaten league ways to five games when called upon by AFC Biggleswade.

It may well only be October but the Lodge Road clash between hosts Sharnbook and the visiting Blunham already as the feel of a six pointer relegation battle about it. Sharnbrook going into the game losers of their three opening home games, whilst Blunham travel looking in this game number six for their first win of the season.

The only club currently sitting below Blunham in the league table are Bedford Sports Athletic and for them having lost all of their opening four games the task to repair the damage comes in the shape of an away encounter at Jubilee Playing Fields against Wilshamstead, the task being no easy one as the home club will be looking for their third win on the bounce.

The final top-flight action takes place at Steppingley Road, the venue at which yet to win at home Flitwick Town take on an Oakley Sports M&DH side that has lost its last two games to slip into the bottom half of the league standings.

For the still 100% Division One league leaders Leighton United the visitors to face them at their Stanbridge Road base are Elstow Abbey who will be hitting the road looking for their first away point/points of the season. Whilst for two of their nearest rivals at the head of the table its trips on the road, second place Pavenham making their way to Rectory Road to take on Shefford Town & Campton Reserves and fourth place Caldecote Reserves also having a tricky encounter when they journey to Walnut Tree Road to face Lea Sports PSG.

Also showing up well in the early league standings are third place Shillington, for them its a trip to King George VI Playing Fields still 100% on the road this season to face home club Kings AFC whose lone home encounter to date this season ended in a heavy defeat against Caldecote Reserves.

The day’s fifth and final game in this section takes place at Groveside, the venue at which host club Henlow receive a visit from Luton Boys whose away record to date reads, played two, lost two.

In Division Two perhaps the day’s outstanding fixture takes place at Weston Park, that being the venue at which unbeaten at home hosts Eastcotts AFC take on current third place Woburn Athletic, but don’t say that too loudly around the vicinity of Ickleford Playfield Fields as 100% at home and fourth place Marabese Ceramics might claim that billing belongs to their home encounter against the visiting league leaders Sundon Park Rangers.

Over at Miller Road, hosts Meltis Albion will I’m sure be more than a handful for the visiting Goldington. Whilst at Bromham Playing Fields, hosts Bromham United will be expected to successfully defend their seasons unbeaten home ways when called upon by Cranfield United Reserves.

Another home club starting the day favourites to collect all three points will be Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves, when at their Playing Field headquarters they receive a visit from yet to win on the road this season Queens Park Crescents. Whilst Potton United Reserves make tracks from The Hollow to take on St Joseph Reserves in Leagrave Park.

Meantime, just down the way at Lothair Road, bottom of the table Stopsley Park will be hosting fifth place Westoning who are yet to win on the road this season.

Action in Division Three sees league leaders Marsh Leys defend their 100% ways when called upon at their Cutler Hammer base by Potton Town. Whilst third place Clifton head for a tough looking encounter against fifth place Stevington at their Playing Field headquarters.

Over at Greenfield Road, second place Westoning Reserves will be fully expected to collect all three points and retain their seasons unbeaten home ways when visited by second from bottom table Kempston Hammers Sports who make the journey looking for their first win of the season.

Still holding down a 100% home record for the season are Dunton, facing them at their Horseshoes Close base will be Riseley Sports who whilst travelling still awaiting their first away point/points of the season will prove to be no easy pushovers.

Elsewhere, Hillgrounds is the venue at which Royal Oak Kempston take on Wilshamstead Reserves. The visitors having drawn their opening two away games looking to go one better against a Oak side that has lost its opening three home league games.

Over at Barford Playing Fields, its local derby action between Great Barford and Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves in a contest that could go either way. The final action in this division taking place in Mowsbury Park where yet to win at home this season Bedford Park Rangers face no easy task putting that matter right when visited by Renhold United Reserves.

Action in Division Four brings about home encounters for the leading two sides, league leaders Elstow Abbey Reserves at The Warren defending their seasons 100% league record against Flitwick Town Reserves. Whilst over at The Bedford Hockey Centre, Bedford Panthers do likewise when visited by Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves.

There will be local derby action at Bedford Road Recreation Ground where still unbeaten at home Sandy Reserves host bottom of the table Caldecote A. Whilst at Digswell Playing Fields, second from bottom table Shefford Town & Campton A seek their first home point/points of the season when called upon by Kempston Con Club Sports who journey in search of their own first away point/points of the season.

Over at Whiston Crescent, Clifton Reserves are still unbeaten for the season albeit from just one drawn game.They host Kempston Athletic who journey still unbeaten on the road this season albeit from two drawn games. Looks like one for the pools coupon to me.

With the final action coming at Wootton Playing Fields, the venue at which hosts Wootton Village seek out their first home win of the season against the visiting Dunton Reserves.