PREVIEW: Beds County Football League

Fourth place Wilstead will be in home action at Jubilee Playing Fields looking to end a run of two consecutive home defeats when called upon by fifth place Renhold United.

Other action takes place at Harvey Close, the venue at which Caldecote are visited by AFC Oakley Sports M&DH who have gained the maximum points from three of their last four away outings to perhaps start the game favourites to collect the spoils and despite losing their last three away outings that comment also applies to Ickwell & Old Warden who head for a meeting with out of form Pavenham at their Playing Field headquarters.

The final top flight action coming at Weston Park where the second from bottom of the table hosts Wootton Blue Cross receive a visit from Flitwick Town.

The game of the day in Division One comes in Stockwood Park where second place hosts Sundon Park Rangers are visited by AFC Turvey who despite currently sitting in fourth place in the league table with their games in hand still remain the title favourites.

It’s also a big day for Sandy when at Bedford Road Recreation Ground they are visited by current league leaders Eastcotts AFC who will journey to face them looking to take their current unbeaten away league run up to six games.

Also still looking for a top two finish are third place Henlow and for them its a trip on the road to Crawley Road in search of their fifth away win on the bounce against the hosting Woburn Lions.

Down at the other end of the table, basement club Bromham United will be hitting the road to Rectory Road in search of their first away win of the season against second from bottom of the table Shefford Town & Campton Reserves and at Ickleford Recreation Ground, Marabese Ceramics receive a visit from an Elstow Abbey side who have lost five of their last seven trips away from the Warren to surely drop them out of this seasons promotion race.

Meantime at Woodlands for the fifth time of asking Brickhill Tigers will hope to stage their opening round Centenary Cup tie against Bedford Sports Athletic for the right to entertain Sundon Park Rangers in round two.

The main spotlight of the action for the lower division sides falls upon the semi-final ties in this seasons Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup and the remaining two first round ties in this seasons Watson Shield.

In those county cup games, Co-op Sports will have home advantage at Solway Road North when they take on Luton District & South Beds League FNE Rangers but for AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves its a trip to Mentmore Road Playing Fields to face North Bucks League side Southcott Village Residents Association.

In the Watson Shield, it’s home action for Division Four side FC Houghton at Moore Crescent against Division Three Kempston Hammers Sports for the right to entertain Moggerhanger United in round two.

Whilst at Digswell Playing Fields, fourth division Shefford Town & Campton A will play host to Division Three Stevington in the quest for a home tie against Clapham Sports in round two.

However, the league action in Division Two will see the game of the day come at Whiston Crescent with a clash between the current top two clubs when the hosting second place Clifton having been beaten just the once on home soil all season and currently on a four game winning home run receive a visit from league leaders Potton Town who themselves have been beaten just the once on the road this season.

Over at Oakley Playing Fields, third place AFC Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves will be looking for their fourth home win on the bounce when called upon by fourth place Queens Park Crescents who on the road this season have so far only been beaten the once at Clifton back in early November. Whilst at The Hollow, Potton United Reserves are visited by Kings AFC who will hit the road looking to end a run of two consecutive away defeats.

Other action comes at Renhold Playing Fields, the venue at which Renhold United Reserves will be entertaining Great Barford who will be on the lookout for their third away win on the bounce and at Gold Street, bottom of the table Riseley Sports having gained just one point from their last eight outings look for a three point haul against sixth place visitors Cranfield United.

However, with United having lost just the once on the road all season the odds will be stacked against them achieving that aim. .

Action in Division Three with league leaders Stevington away on Watson Shield duty gives Meltis Albion the chance to regain the top spot should they retain their seasons 100% home record at Miller Road when visited by Wilstead Reserves.

Whilst for fourth place Westoning its a trip to Hillgrounds and a 3G encounter with the hosting bottom of the table AFC Bush.

Other action coming at the Hockey Centre, the venue at which home side Bedford Panthers will be expecting to collect all three points when visited by second from bottom of the table Clifton Reserves whose eight away trips this season have all ended in defeat and at Cutler Hammer, Kempston Athletic will look to extend their home unbeaten ways up to four games against the visiting Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves.

The final action comes on The Green where Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves play hosts to Kempston Con Club Sports who will hit the road looking for just their second away win of the season.

In Division Four with league leaders FC Houghton away on Watson Shield duty, second place Meltis Albion Reserves will look to inch closer to them with a three point haul from their away encounter at Wootton Playing Fields against Wootton Village.

A comment that also applies to third place Clapham Sports, when at King George VI Playing Fields they look for home win number five on the bounce against the visiting Moggerhanger United.

Over at Crawley Road where Cranfield United Reserves have been beaten just the twice this season the visitors are a Bedford Park Rangers side who have won three of their last four away outings.

At Harrowden School, Atletico Europa go in search of their first home win in eight outings when visited by Caldecote A whose away record to date reads, played 11, lost 11.

The final two games in this section taking place in Flitwick. At Redborne School, Flitwick Town Reserves will be in search of their fourth consecutive home win when called upon by Mid Beds Tigers and just down the road at the Leisure Centre, Dinamo Flitwick also seek their fourth home win on the bounce when called upon by Sandy Reserves who have won just the once on the road all season.