Meltis and Constant reach Sunday Cup final

First Division side Constant & Co Athletic will meet First Division adversaries Meltis Mexicans in the final of the Harrison & Rowley Cup after coming out on top in their semi-finals against Premier Division sides Dunton Sunday and Queensmen respectively.

Home side Dunton Sunday, propping up the Premier League table, traded attacks with Constant & Co. for the first fifteen minutes and came the closest to scoring. One shot had to be tipped over the bar by the Constant keeper, and four minutes later Dunton hit the woodwork. On a bumpy, dry pitch, Constant displayed the better control and got on top of the game, their pressure being rewarded with a disputed penalty in the twenty-fifth minute. Bennie Benson tucked the spot kick away for Constant and a minute before the break Bennie was called upon to convert a second penalty which had no hint of controversy. In the second half Constant played the better football, Dunton often just punting upfield to relieve pressure on their defence. Goal number three came at the other end, when in one of the many Constant attacks, quicksilver Bennie Benson was put through a hole in the Dunton defence to beat the keeper, poking the ball into the net. Bennie has now passed the sixty goal mark in league and cup matches this season. Dunton tried to get a goal back but in a lively semi-final Constant were the worthy three / nil winners against a hard working Dunton side.

In the other semi-final at Lawrence Park, Queensmen got off to a quick start when the eventual man of the match, James Slack, headed a goal from a corner in the first five minutes with the Meltis defence caught cold. In a tight game, both teams were evenly matched with the home side just edging the first half. For Meltis, Pilgrim, Simons, Joswiak and Alleyne had chances to score but their efforts were wasteful. After the break Meltis got on top but squandered two gilt edged chances to equalise, and it was not until the eightieth minute that the Mexicans scored, Scott Alleyne scrambling the ball into the Queensmen’s net after Sandro Hazelwood had laced through a ball which caused confusion in the Queens’ defence. With extra time looming, Meltis were awarded a penalty only for Gill to blast the spot kick over the bar, however, his embarrassment was saved in the nick of time by the ever dangerous Jozwiak who scored with four minutes left after Rory Crooks had launched a long through over the home defence. Meltis’ path into the final was secured by a narrow two / one margin.

Meanwhile in the Premier Division, Caldecote Young Boys put paid to Atletico Europa’s hopes of winning the title when they hammered Europa five / one. Lawson Park Rangers blitzed London Road Supreme eight / nil. Only Oakley can overtake Lawson Park now for the title, and Oakley have two games left, one at Queensmen and one at Dunton Sunday which they will have to win. Lawson Park have one game left against bottom club Dunton who hold the key to the destination of the divisional trophy. A draw will not be enough for Lawson Park against Dunton if Oakley win both their matches as Oakley have a superior goal difference. Lawson Park swept aside London Road Supreme with goals from Asa Garlick, Aron Izzard, Marc Lagatta and four from the prolific Simon Pixley. The Rangers look in fine fettle for their County Cup Final.

There was just one game in Division One. Bird in Hand beat Newtown Rangers, which leaves Newtown Rangers in need of points to be sure of playing in this division next season. After decades in the League this was Bird in Hand Bedford’s last game, due to their sponsoring pub closing down. Let’s hope that the team can resurrect themselves under a new name. Fittingly, Bird ended with a victory. From the kick-off Rob Pinny put Bird into the lead after latching onto a Tom Dymond through ball. In Newtown’s first attack they also scored, but with the last kick of the half Paul Obuch put Bird back into the lead after a goalmouth scramble from a Tom Dymond corner. In the second half, Newtown were gifted a debatable penalty allowing them to equalise but Matt Cheveralls came to the rescue when he produced a magical lob to settle the match for Bird at three / two.

Kempston Sunday have retained top position in Division Two after beating Ship Inn seven / nil. Ship Inn could still survive is they could get sufficient points in their last three games, and results go their way with their fellow strugglers. Kempston Sunday keep filling their ‘goals for’ locker with their seven against Ship. Jordan Jarrold and Jamie Felts both scored hat-tricks with Andy Latimer contributing just the one. New Inn Biggleswade kept up the heat on Kempston, gaining two more points against Cranfield. Cranfield started their game against the Inn in a spirited fashion and were soon two goals up. However, Barry Sells and Paul Standen equalised before half-time. New Inn dominated the second half and Barry Sells scored twice more to get his hat-trick, with Luke Gurney getting the other goal. The Inn have played two games less than Kempston so the outlook is for a tight finish in this Division. Harrold & Carlton are in the mix at the top just behind New Inn and need to win all their remaining games to have a chance of the title.

Division Three leaders Renhold came a cropper away to struggling Wells Stars losing two / nil to put Renhold’s title aspirations in doubt. Caldecote Young Boys Reserves scraped through against Bedford Allsters and the Boys are now only five points behind Renhold with six games in hand. Mowsbury Athletic duly crushed bottom side Dunton Reserves nine / nil, but that will not help Mowsbury win the title. Mowsbury were two / nil up at half-time, having missed a penalty, but the roof fell in for Dunton when Athletic scored seven more goals. Curtis McGall, Matt Barnes and Andy Klein scored two apiece, with Luigi Spinelli and Jamie Lally scoring one each. Dunton also supplied an own goal.

Gardeners Arms Biggleswade still lead Division Four although they had no game this week. They remain favourites to win this title race. Rose Biggleswade in third place beat Bedford Panthers five / four and fourth placed Grafton Celtics beat BMC four / one. Grafton’s scorers were Luke Devine with a pair, Sam Stewart with one and an own goal. In the other game this week, Bedford Albion reached safety at the bottom after beating Bird in Hand Lower Stondon one / nil away from home.

There are a number of games left to be played in Division Five, mainly because of previous involvement by teams in Cup competitions. Goldington Rangers are four points clear at the top with two games to play. Rangers beat Bedford Cupids three / one. The threat to Rangers will come from GNG Tigers and Shillington Pirates who have five games and seven games left respectively. GNG picked up both points in their trip to Sandy Badgers, the final score being six / nil., and Shillington Pirates won five / nil away at Sir William Peel Sandy. Santaniello’s are second after beating Harrold & Carlton Reserves five / two, but have three games left and are four points off the lead, so they could still figure in the trophy stakes if the other teams falter during the run-in.

The Britannia Harrison & Rowley Manager of the month award for March goes to Suki Singh of GNG Tigers.

This coming Sunday there is a depleted league fixture list, and on Thursday, April 7 the first of the midweek games are scheduled.