Bedfordshire League preview: October 24

At their Playing Field headquarters league leaders Renhold United will be looking to extend their 100% home record to five games and unbeaten ways to nine games when called upon by a Sharnbrook side who will come in search of their first away point of the season.

Whilst at Church Lane, second place AFC Oakley M&DH go in search of win number six on the bounce against the visiting bottom of the table Eastcotts AFC who are currently on a seven game losing run.

Over at Hillgrounds, third place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College willl be looking for their fifth win on the bounce when they entertain second from bottom of the table Elstow Abbey who will make the short journey looking to end a run of five consecutive defeats and secure their first away point.

Whilst fourth place Flitwick Town who still hold down a perfect 100% home record at their Football Centre base and now unbeaten in their last seven starts welcome fifth place Ickwell & Old Warden who themselves are still holding down a seasons 100% perfect away record.

Over at Woburn Road it will be local derby action between sixth place hosts Ampthill Town Reserves, now on a four game unbeaten run, against eighth place Cranfield United who will seek to avoid their third consecutive defeat.

Whilst at their Playing Field base seventh place Marston Shelton Rovers go into home action against Sandy and just down the road at Jubilee Playing Fields, Wilstead look to take their unbeaten ways up to three games against visitors Caldecote who will be looking for just their second win of the season.

The final game comes at Hitchin Road, the venue at which tenth place hosts Shefford Town & Campton look to repair the damage of three consecutive defeats when called upon by 12th place Pavenham.

There is no mistaking where the top game of the Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford action will come this weekend as the top two sides meet each other when at their Playing Field headquarters league leaders Stevington still unbeaten this season and on a five game winning run are visited by second place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves who themselves are on a three game winning run and still 100% on the road this season.

For third place and still unbeaten this season Sundon Park Rangers it’s a trip on the road to Mill Lane to be hosted by Potton Town who are currently on a three game losing run.

Whilst fifth place Westoning now winners of their last three games hit the road for a Miller Road outing against seventh place hosts Meltis Albion.

Elsewhere, over in Allen Park sixth place Queens Park Crescents will look to maintain their seasons unbeaten home ways when the host Henlow side who will hit the road now losers in their last three outings.

At Gold Street, hosts Riseley Sports will be in search of their first home win of the season when called upon by bottom of the table AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves who come in search of their first win of the season.

The final action coming at Moore Crescent, the venue at which second from bottom of the table Houghton Athletic entertain Shefford Town & Campton Reserves who will be in search of their first away point/points of the season.

The spotlight for the lower division sides this weekend falls upon the 16 ties that form round two of this season’s Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup. This of course presents chances for a spot of giant-killing and of the eight all Bedfordshire County Football League clashes just one is between sides from the same division when at Groveside on current division four league form second from bottom of the table hosts Henlow Reserves will start the game second favourites to make it into the hat for the last 16 draw when visited by fourth place Stevington Reserves.

So where will the giant-killing come? Well in round one division four Caldecote A topped the list with their win over division two Elstow Abbey Reserves, this weekend despite have home advantage at Harvey Close their task looks even more daunting as they are paid a visit by the division three league leaders Wixams who are still unbeaten this season.

Whilst fellow division four side AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College A who netted a round one win over division three AFC Dunton find the visitors to face them on the 3G surface at Hillgrounds are current division three fourth place Wilstead Reserves. So perhaps we need to look elsewhere for those giant-killers this time around.

Perhaps Whiston Crescent, the venue at which division three Clifton play hosts to a division two Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves side who are yet to win on the road this season or even back at Harvey Close where division three Caldecote Reserves might well fancy their chances of getting the better of division two Bedford United.

The other three all Bedfordshire County League clashes look likely to go the way of the higher division side. At Cutler Hammer, Kempston Hammers Sports will be expecting to progress at the expense of division three visitors and yet to win on the road Renhold United Reserves. Whilst for division four Flitwick Town A and Westoning Reserves despite having home advantage you would expect their division two visitors to progress. The Town at their Football Centre base being called upon by Cople & Bedford SA and at Greenfield Road, Westoning Reserves receiving a visit from Clapham Sports.

For seven other sides it’s ties against opposition from another league. Five of these games are against Luton District & South Beds League opponents. Of the quintet just one will enjoy home advantage when at Crawley Road Cranfield United Reserves welcome Brache Sparta (2015) Reserves as the other quartet make tracks into Luton. Heading to Leagrave Park are White Eagles to take on Luton Leagrave FC, whilst for Mid Beds Tigers the destination is Kent Athletic to face FC Polonia Luton.

Meantime, FC Koran will host Flitwick Town Reserves in Lewsey Park and Luton Aces play Meltis Albion Reserves at Icknield Recreation Ground. The final two ties see Sandy Reserves have home advantage at Bedford Road Recreation Ground against Aylesbury & District League outfit FC Spandits and in Jubilee Park, Atletico Europa play hosts to North Bucks League side Southcott Village Reserves.

With all this cup action taking place this weekends division two league action is reduced to just two games. At Pirton Recreation Ground, third place Lea Sports PSG will look to return to winning ways when visited by ninth place Kempston Athletic now losers of their last three outings.

Whilst at The Warren, bottom of the table Elstow Abbey Reserves search out their first point when they welcome second from bottom of the table Wootton Village who themselves will be looking for their first win of the season.

Likewise it’s just a programme of two games in division three. At Rectory Road, eighth place Shefford Town & Campton A will be looking to maintain their seasons 100% home record when called upon by second place Sundon Park Rovers who themselves are still unbeaten on the road this season.

Whilst for third place Dinamo Flitwick its a trip to Horseshoes Close in search of win number four on the bounce against the hosting fifth place AFC Dunton who seek to retain their seasons unbeaten home ways.

To complete a full set it’s also a programme of two games in division four. For Polonia Bedford that means a chance for them with Mid Beds Tigers away on cup duty to top the table should they as expected collect a point or more from their visit to face bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports at Hurst Grove.

Whilst for third place Staughton the requirement to also jump above the Tigers is the haul of all three points from their Woodlands away encounter against the hosting Bedford Albion.