Striker Steele seals charity cup success

IT was all getting rather twitchy for the Premier Division front runners.Blunham can win when they visit Dunton on Wednesday (see report) after both they and Shefford Town & Campton were held to 3-3 draws.

Blunham’s eight game winning run ended at Leighton United where Rory McMullen, Kevin Hilton and Andrew Clarke were on the home scoresheet against replies from James Allen (two) and Andrew Vallom.

Shefford Town & Campton were at Wilshamstead who will now finish the season in third place. Andrew Hayday scored two and Carl Thripp one against Wilstead replies from Matt Rosborough, Ben Flatters and Neville Allen.

At the other end of the table, it was a good day for AFC Kempston Town. They moved out of the drop zone with a 2-1 win at Dunton thanks to Roy Murnane and Liam Bowland with Barry Emery pulling one back from the penalty spot.

But back in the drop zone are Woburn who were beaten 2-1 at home by Sharnbrook after a Shaun Barnett double, Martin Holland the Safari Boys scorer.

The final top-flight game saw Flitwick Town without a win in six after losing 6-2 at Caldecote. Jack Gabbitas netted four together with single strikes from Danny Lane and Kai Griffiths-Shilton, Town scorers being Steve Parkhouse and Dean Warren.

Bedford Hatters are this season’s Division One champions after being awarded the three points after Blunham Reserves failed to raise a side. Second place Potton Wanderers also forfeited the chance to stay in the title race when failing to raise a side for their scheduled visit to Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves.

However it opened the door for Marston Shelton Rovers to claim the second spot as they ran out 6-0 winners at AFC Kempston Town Reserves who finished bottom. Charlie Standish, Aaron Franks, Luke Smith and Xennan Paul goals plus successful penalties from Lee Dudley and Gibrain Pirbhai did the damage.

Queens’ ‘We are the Champions’ was also ringing out for Lea Sports PSG. They have won the Division Two title following a 12-0 home win over bottom of the table Kempston Hammers Sports. Dean Lewis and James Awofisan bagged four each, Martin Collins grabbed a hat-trick together with a single strike from Edwin Anabaranye. It also means they are unbeaten in 16 outings.

Looking likely ‘silver medalists’ are Westoning Recreation Club following a 2-0 home win over Kings AFC thanks to Ian Buckingham and Scott Gadsden.

But just three points behind are Lidlington United Sports following their 8-0 home win over Great Barford. Darren Sims netted a hat-trick, Paul Nockels two plus single strikes for Steve Flaherty, Alex Burrows and Chris Roberts.

After three straight defeats, Bromham United returned to winning ways with a 1-0 home win over Stevington thanks to a strike from Phill Kempsell. It was a defeat that leaves Stevington in the drop zone after both Marabese Ceramics and Stopsley Park collected points.

Robert Maina scored for the Park in a 1-1 home draw with Shefford Town & Campton Reserves for whom Sam Larsen replied. A brace from Josh Pierre St Claire against a reply from Toby McNaught took the Tilermen to a 2-1 home win over Clifton, the visitors losing their eighth game on the bounce.

For Queens Park Crescents there was a return to a top six after winning 5-2 at home to Elstow Abbey. Ayaz Hussain netted four and Amman Hussain once against Abbey replies from Harry Ellis and Tom Pitts.

Without kicking a ball, Sharnbrook Reserves inched ever closer to the Division Three title after second place Pavenham were beaten for the first time on the road this season. They lost 3-1 at M & DH Oakley after Adam Emms

(two) and Phill Straccia were on the scoresheet, the lone reply from Michael Bates. The victory took the home side to within two points of Pavenham.

Right there in the promotion mix and just another two points adrift are both Sundon Park Rangers and Co-op Sports. Rangers made it seven unbeaten with a 9-1 win at Flitwick Town Reserves. Nick Buttigeig bagged four, Matt Conway a brace,along wirh singles from Mark Bonner, Chris Hazell and Aaron Conway, the lone reply from Cody Roberts.

For Co-op Sports made it eight wins on the spin a 8-0 success over Dunton Reserves. Ashley Jordan led the way with a hat-trick along with strikes from Robbie Cusack, James McMullen, Thomas Miller, Kris Fox and Gareth Farr.

Caldecote ‘A’ know they can’t beat the drop after losing their 15th consecutive game, this time 8-2 at Renhold Village for whom Marko Tobzdic, Daniel Avis and Carl Townsend all netting twice alongside strikes from Simon Wade and Dan Luke, the replies from Tom Cookman and Lee Pyke.

Royal Oak Kempston were 2-1 winners at home to Cranfield United Reserves thanks to Gareth Arzu and Andrew Palombella, United’s reply from Adam Constable.

AFC Turvey are now just two games away from a perfect season in Division Four following their 24th consecutive win, this time 2-0 at home to Thurleigh with Saimir Guri netting both.

Goldington are assured of second spot following a 2-1 home win over Dinamo Flitwick with goals from Thomas Mills and Ryan Gascoyne with the Dinamo reply from Dale Goldie.

Favourites for the third slot are Potton Town. They made it six away wins on the bounce with a 4-0 victory at Stewartby Village thankss to Chris Cooper (two), James Pyman and Adam Jones.

There were also away wins for Eastcotts, Sandy Reserves and Goldington Hammers, all three bagging five goals. Ben Martin (two), Michael Stafford, Jamie Mercurio and Rob Ginn were on the scoresheet for the Hammers at Wootton Village whose lone reply came from Adam Flynn.

Eastcotts took their unbeaten away ways to six games with a 5-0 win at Clifton Reserves thanks to Dan Eagles (two), Ben Eagles and Tony Milioti plus an own goal.

And Sandy Reserves won 5-0 at Lea Sports PSG Reserves thanks to Nathan Morris’ brace and singles for Ian Hammett, Brad Smith and Reece Stratton.

Easter Monday (April 25)

WITH goals from Paul Beattie and Jack Goodall, Renhold United were 2-0 winners over Flitwick Town to keep themselves mathematically still in with a chance of a top three finish in the Premier Division.

Yet it was a poor day for near neighbours Oakley Sports, they failed to raise a side for their home fixture with Woburn who in being awarded the three points climb out of the drop zone at the expense of AFC Kempston Town.

Town themselves in action at Leighton United where they drew 1-1. United’s Alex Bradley shooting his side into a 70th minute lead before Town’s Jamie Rodd levelled matters five minutes from time.

Elsewhere Sharnbrook took their unbeaten home ways up to five games by sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Dunton. Shaun Barnett slotting the home side ahead on the half-hour mark before Paul Mercer hit the visitors equaliser ten minutes into the second period.

In the day’s lone Division One game, FC Meppershall had their four game winning home run ended when beaten 4-3 by Caldecote Reserves. Tom Wallace, Tom Dupey, Andrew Spiers and Jordan Goodman on target for the winners against home replies via Kerion Langley, Craig Damon and Danny Wing.

Division Three leaders Sharnbrook Reserves are now within two points of the division two crown, all despite going down to their first home defeat in ten outings when beaten 4-2 by a Co-op Sports side that has now won its last five games.

James McMukin with a brace plus single goals from Scott Davis and Dave Mycroft only being replied to by Darren Wallinger and Darryl Gadsden.

The reason Sharnbrook are closer to the crown being down to the fact that Pavenham were beaten 1-0 at Cranfield United Reserves. Peter Kerr netting the game’s lone goal.

The result of this defeat now sees M & DH Oakley jump above Pavenham into second spot in the league table following their own 5-0 win at Wilshamstead Reserves. Jamie McLenan with a hat-trick plus Adam Emms with a brace doing the damage.

Elsewhere, the top scorers of the day were Renhold Village, they won 7-2 at home against Flitwick Town Reserves. Dan Luke bagging four goals alongside single strikes from Simon Wade, Pete Neal and Michael Luke against a Town brace in reply from Grant Archer.

AFC Turvey, are now within one game of a perfect season in Division Four after win number 25 on the bounce at Potton Town. Saimir Guri with a brace plus strikes from Daniel Bailey and John Guiney taking them to a 4-0 victory.

The day’s other scheduled action saw Lea Sports PSG Reserves fail to raise a side for the visit of Stewartby Village who duly get awarded the three points.