New Inn miss out on a final

There was a surprise result at Mowsbury Park when the Park defeated New Inn Biggleswade, from the division above in a tight, excellent cup tie. Mowsbury started well, carving out three good goal-scoring chances in the first 20 minutes but for no reward. New Inn then got on top but found the home defence solid with keeper Tom Carr making two excellent saves.

This resulted in a goalless half but Mowsbury started the brighter in the second period and grabbed an early lead when Curtis McGall broke through a crowded penalty area to force the ball into the corner.

New Inn took the initiative but couldn’t go level and they fell further behind when substitute Jack Cordell was brought down inside the penalty area and he slotted the resultant spot kick into the net despite the Inn keeper getting a hand to it.

The Inn did score with 15 minutes left but they couldn’t break through and grab an equaliser which would have forced extra time.

In the other semi Kempston Sunday beat Caldecote Young Boys Reserves 3-2. With the initial signs looking not too hopeful, the Boys soon settled into the game and it remained pretty even with very little threat on either goal.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 31st minute when a free kick from the right wing was floated into the Caldecote box and was half cleared before being returned to the far post where Marc Umney was on hand to rifle it home.

Kempston began to look the better side but Caldecote kept plugging away and came close to equalising when they got behind the defence for the first time. They squared the ball only for a goal-bound shot to be too weak to trouble the keeper.

The second half was only eight minutes old when Kempston scored their second – a cross from the left being pumped into the area by Jordan Jarrold and Shaun Winconek was on hand to poke it in. Within a minute, Caldecote had pulled a goal back as Steve Monks was put through. But it soon became 3-1 when Steve Muggeridge’s ball was lobbed over the keeper by Jordan Jarrold.

Caldecote kept probing and they were rewarded with a penalty which Ryan Ambrose converted to set up an interesting final quarter. The Boys’ needed to get another but the goal didn’t materialise so it ended 3-2 to Kempston. If Caldecote had had some substitutes to replace players carrying injuries on a heavy pitch, it might have been a different story!

There was quite a bit of drama going on in the league and nowhere more so than in the Premier Division. Leaders Atletico Europa crashed to a 3-1 defeat at second placed Oakley and are now only a point ahead.

Lawson Park Rangers beat Caldecote Young Boys to keep on the same number of points as Oakley in third place. Simon Pixley scored first for Lawson’s and Caldecote drew level after the break, but Charlie Betts produced a fine header to win the game with 20 minutes left on the clock. In the only other game in this division, Dunton Sunday won only their second match, beating fellow strugglers London Road Supreme 3-2.

Meltis Mexicans march on at the head of Division One, beating 21st Century 3-1. Meltis scored their three goals before half time with Jason Simons volleying the ball into Century’s net early in the game.

Century were awarded a penalty but the spot kick went wide and they were made to pay for the error when Damon Hazelwood’s teasing cross was headed into the net for an own goal and Meltis’ second. Scott Alleyne rattled in number three while Century got themselves on the scoresheet midway through the second half while Meltis let them off a drubbing due to poor finishing.

Second-placed Sharnbrook Casuals are only a point behind Meltis after their 5-2 win at London Road Supreme Reserves. Constant & Co are in third, three points behind with a game in hand, after beating Bird in Hand 3-1. The other game in this division ended with a 5-2 win by Old Hastingsburians over Kempston Hammers.

Eagle Heating still lead Division Two despite not playing this week, and with Kempston Sunday in the cup, Harrold & Carlton took their opportunity to close the gap in third by beating Cranfield 3-1. Sharks picked up a welcome two points at bottom placed Ship Inn by scoring the only goal of the game, and Drager United got a useful win over an out of sorts Marston Reds, 3-1 being the away win score.

The Division Three title chase looks in danger of going to the wire with Renhold having played nearly all their games and sitting on top several points ahead of the opposition, who have many games in hand.

Bumble Bee Flitwick and Old Boys are in the chasing pack but a 2-2 draw didn’t help either of them in their efforts to get up with the leaders. Michael Kirby and Darren Watts were the two Boys on target. This game was without a referee until an hour before kick off but locally based professional official Simon Beck fancied a run and was pleased to help out. Special thanks – and we hope he got a good mark from the two clubs!

Bedford Allsters hammered Black Tom Rangers 7-0 but aren’t favourites to overtake Renhold. Caldecote Reserves are best placed to threaten them but have a number of games to play and are currently short of fully fit players. Salento beat Wells Stars 6-3 but are still not, on paper, clear of a relegation threat.

There were two tight games at the top of Division Four, both ending in 2-2 draws. Leaders Gardeners Arms Biggleswade may be the happiest of the four, drawing at Moor Lane Meltis with Rose Biggleswade still ahead of Grafton Celtics after an apparent bitter encounter at Stratton Way. Embankment are still rooted to the bottom after losing 3-2 at home to BMC.

Leaders Goldington Rangers are keeping up their winning spree after beating Harrold & Carlton Reserves 4-0 in Division Five. Santaniello’s lost for the first time in a month when Shillington Pirates beat them 4-1, just warming up for their semi-final match next week against GNG Tigers. The Tigers were in fine fettle hammering Sir William Peel 11-1.

Sandy Badgers are sitting handily in third place after beating AC Atletico 3-1, Atletico seemingly losing their way since Christmas. Bottom club Kempston Wanderers did very well to lose only 2-1 against a good Fox & Hounds Clapham side.

On Sunday there are two cup semis and a full programme.

Clive Milton