Shefford & Campton close in on title

It also means Shefford retain their unbeaten home record for the season with a 12th straight win but it leaves Dunton doomed to finish in the bottom two.

Back into second place are Caldecote who ended Bedford Hatters’ eight game unbeaten run and leapfrogge them in the standings. They were 3-0 winners at Harvey Close thanks to Kai Griffiths-Shilton (two, including a penalty) and Barry Dellar.

Last season’s champions Blunham became the first top flight club to finish their season when recording a 4-0 home win over Oakley Sports, Gareth Hughes, Matthew McMahon, Jordan Henry and substitute Alan Brown – just one month short of his 50th birthday! – netted the goals.

Division One

THERE is no change in Division One following wins for the top two. Leaders Ickwell & Old Warden had a strike from Lee Threadgold to give them an eighth straight win at AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves.

They stay top on goal difference from Bedford Sports Athletic who twice came from behind to win 3-2 at home against FC Meppershall. Gary Canzano, Asa Mead and an Ashley Mead 80th minute penalty sealed the win, the replies from Craig Damon and Danny Wing.

Back up into third are Lidlington United Sports who were 5-1 winners at Luton Boys thanks to Darren Simms and Alex Burrows with two apiece an own goal, the reply from Steve O’Dell.

Also winning on the road were Sandy who won 2-0 win at Caldecote Reserves thanks to goals from Mark Jennings and Daniel Stafford.

Division Two

ELSTOW Abbey’s Division Two lead is up to nine points following the retention of their season’s unbeaten league run and a 6-0 home win over Queens Park Crescents. Danny Pilgrim put them ahead after just 56 seconds, a lead that was increased to 4-0 by half time thanks to an Ed L’Erario hat-trick. Then in the closing 15 minutes Travis Joseph and Harry Ellis both struck.

In second spot by virtue of goal difference are Pavenham who took their unbeaten ways to 11 games as they recorded a seventh straight win, 2-1 at Sundon Park Rangers. James Owen netting both goals against a home reply from Matthew Conway.

It means AFC Turvey now drop to third spot after they lost 4-2 at Shefford Town & Campton Reserves whose goals came from Alex Toyle, Sam Larsen, Sam Martin and Ryan Dobson to complete a season’s double. The Turvey replies came from Mark Allen and Tim Clarke.

Also completing a season’s double were Potton United Reserves. They were 5-1 home winners against Clifton with goals from Ben Talbot, James Tizard, Lee Garner, James Hearson and James Billington against a lone reply from James Croxford.

There were away wins for Stopsley Park and Bromham United, the Park after three consecutive defeats returning to winning ways with a 3-0 win at M & DH Oakley who were losing for the seventh time on home soil. Rob Wilson bagged and Kenny Ivy the other.

United won 2-1 at Marabese Ceramics after James Hukin shot them ahead after

68 minutes, that goal cancelled out by a strike from Lewis Emery six minutes later. But it was Dean Waghorn who headed in Bromham’s 89th minute winner.

Last Wednesday in Division Two, the game between Sundon Park Rangers and Co-op Sports ended in deadlock at 1-1. Samuel Kehinde put Rangers ahead on 32 minutes while Luke Blackburn equalised 18 minutes from time.

Division Three

EASTCOTTS AFC made it eight wins on the bounce and closed to within four points of the non-playing leaders Cranfield United Reserves with a 4-1 home victory over Potton Town. Michael Sexton netted a hat-trick together with a strike from Tony Milioti, the Town reply from Matt Drew.

Up to third are Renhold Village who returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at Sundon Park Rangers Colts, the result ending the home side’s five game winning run. Dan Luke and Carl Townsend were on the Village scoresheet against a home reply from Kevin Hilton.

Also winning on the road for the first time in six outings were Riseley Sports with a 4-2 victory at second from bottom Flitwick Town Reserves. Tom Ellison netted twice alongside strikes from Peter Baish and Alan Spurgeon against two in reply from Town’s Liam Keane.

Bottom of the table Dunton Reserves shared the spoils in a 2-2 home draw against Kempston Hammers Sports to end a run of eight consecutive home defeats. Dan Cutmore and Charlie Williams were on the Dunton scoresheet against a brace in reply from Hammers’ Jimmy Grandidge.

Division Four

WITH Bedford Park Rangers on Watson Shield duty, Marsh Leys took over top spot with a 2-1 win at Thurleigh. Grant Williams netted both goals to retain Leys’ unbeaten run on the road and extended their current overall unbeaten run to 14 games. The home reply came from Josh Pierre St Claire.

Jumping above Thurleigh into third are Clifton Reserves with a ninth straight win, a 4-1 success at home to Goldington Hammers. Mason Bambridge netted two alongside Lewis Goddard and Robert Harradine.

Top scorers on the day were Dinamo Flitwick. They recorded home win number four on the bounce and took their unbeaten ways up to six games with a 6-3 victory over Caldecote ‘A’. Dale Goldie netted a hat-trick with James Burton, Scott Hannam and James Watson getting the others against an own goal and strikes from Jordan Goodman and Nicky Albone.

Having lost their last seven, Wootton Village returned to winning ways with a 3-2 home win over Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ with Adam Flynn (two) and an own goal doing the damage.

Watson Shield

BEDFORD Park Rangers will contest this season’s Watson Shield final at Cranfield United on Friday, April 27 after a lone goal from Shaun Finlay took them to a 1-0 victory at Stevington.

However, they must wait to find out who their final opponents will be after the second scheduled tie between Goldington and Bedford Panthers was called off on Thursday evening pending the outcome of a protest from Thurleigh against the Panthers for playing an inelligible player in their quarter-final tie back on March 10. That matter is yet to be resolved!