PREVIEW: Beds County League

The centre of attention this weekend switches back to cup football and the various league cup ties.
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For Premier Division supported by Sportsform clubs that means action in the Britannia Cup.

Due to the inclement weather of the past few weeks there are still three opening round ties to be settled.

At Renhold Playing Fields, Renhold United will be playing hosts to Ickwell & Old Warden for the right to entertain either Wootton Blue Cross or Lidlington United Sports in round two, although Wootton’s Bedfordshire Senior Trophy semi-final tie with Crawley Green waterlogged off last Saturday this tie will now be played at the weekend.

Whilst at Greenfields, Shillington play hosts to Flitwick Town knowing the winners will travel and face current league leaders AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College in round two.

Already at the round two stage are Marston Shelton Rovers who at their Playing Field headquarters play hosts to a Shefford Town & Campton side they have already beaten twice this season in league action. Whilst at Lodge Road, Sharnbrook receive a visit from Wilstead.

The two top-flight league games take place at Harvey Close, the venue at which hosts Caldecote will look to end a run of four consecutive home defeats when called upon by an AFC Oakley Sports M&DH side who will be in pursuit of their third away win on the bounce, while at Hillgrounds league leaders AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College will defend their season’s 100 per cent home record against the visiting Lidlington United Sports.

For Division One clubs it’s mainly Centenary Cup action where in round one Goldington and Sandy after three failed attempts due to the weather look to make it fourth time lucky at Alexander Sports Centre for the right to travel to Bromham United in round two.

Also making a fourth attempt to stage their round one tie will be Brickhill Tigers and Bedford Sports Athletic at Woodlands with the reward of a home tie against Sundon Park Rangers.

In the second round, it’s home action at Rectory Road for Shefford Town & Campton Reserves against current league leaders AFC Turvey.

With the visitors having already netted a league double over the Town they will start the day firm favourites to make it into the hat for the semi-final draw where current holders Henlow already sit after Luton Boys Seniors demise has given them a second round bye.

League action comes at The Warren, the venue at which Henlow will travel looking for not only their fourth away league win on the bounce but also a season’s double over their hosts Elstow Abbey.

Whilst for bottom of the table Bromham United it’s the quest of their first home win of the season when called upon by second place Sundon Park Rangers and at Ickleford Playing Fields, Marabese Ceramics look for their third win on the bounce when visited by Woburn Lions.

For Division Two sides it’s second round action in the Jubilee Cup. The tie of the round perhaps being the Oakley Playing Field clash between hosts AFC Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves and the visiting Clifton or indeed the Mowsbury Park clash between hosts Queens Park Crescents and the visiting Potton Town.

Whilst for Town’s near neighbours Potton United Reserves it’s a trip to face Great Barford and over at Crawley Road, Cranfield United will start the day firm favourites to take their name into the hat for the semi-final draw when called upon by a Riseley Sports side that are yet to win on the road this season.

League action in Division Two comes in the shape of just two fixtures. At New Grounds, hosts AFC Harlington will be in search of their first win in 10 games when they host Co-Op Sports and at Hillgrounds, AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves entertain Renhold United Reserves who are searching for their first away win of the season.

Action in the Watson Shield sees the two remaining second round ties taking place.

At Moore Crescent, Division Four leaders FC Houghton play hoss to Kempston Hammers Sports of Division Three knowing a home tie against Moggerhanger United awaits the winners in round three.

At Digswell Playing Fields, Shefford Town & Campton A of Division Four entertain Division Three side Stevingtonfor the right to host Clapham Sports.

Already at the round three stage are Bedford Pathers who at their Hockey Centre base host Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves who on the opening day of the season were mauled 14-1 by The Panthers at the same venue.

At Miller Road, Meltis Albion entertain the only side to have beaten them in league action this season, Wilstead Reserves.

Division Three’s league action thus reduced to just a programme of three games. For Elstow Abbey Reserves that means a chance to get closer to the top of the table when they journey to Hillgrounds looking for their sixth away win on the bounce against the hosting Kempston Con Club Sports.

At Cutler Hammer, Kempston Athletic receive a visit from bottom of the table and yet to win on the road this season AFC Bush.

The final game taking place at Whiston Crescent, the venue at which second from bottom of the table Clifton Reserves take on Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves.

In Division Four there is a programme of six games. For second place Meltis Albion Reserves it’s a trip to Wootton Recreation Ground looking for their third away win on the bounce against fourth place hosts Wootton Village.

At King George VI Playing Fields, third place Clapham Sports face a Mid Beds Tigers side looking for their fifth league win on the bounce.

Meantime at Steppingley Road, sixth place Dinamo Flitwick will be in search of home win number four in a row when called upon by the visiting Bedford Park Rangers and at Redborne School it will be home action for Flitwick Town Reserves against a Caldecote A side who are yet to win on the road this season

Over at Harrowden School, Atletico Europa will go in search of their first home win in seven outings when hosting Cranfield United Reserves who have lost their last three away outings.

With the the final action being at Moggerhanger Playing Fields, the venue at which fifth place hosts Moggerhanger United go into local derby action against the visiting Sandy Reserves.