Beds FA Junior Cup – Second Round
Caldecote 'A' 1
Ickwell & Old Warden Res 1 aet
(Caldecote won penalty shoot-out 5-4)

HIGH-Flying Division One Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves were sent packing out of the Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup by lowly Division Three side Caldecote 'A' which had home John Millar quickly looking up the dates of the next round and comparing that with the home fixture list of Tottenham.

His White Hart Lane season ticket holding goalkeeper Ryan Ambrose became his extra time hero and penalty winner, 'Max' skipping to the bar in the knowledge that Spurs would face a trip to Wigan on the weekend of the next round so Ambrose's services will be available to him!

The home side were to have the advantage of the very strong wind in the opening half with Jack Warwick sending the game's first scoring chance wide of Ickwell keeper Duncan Castle's uprights.

The Caldecote No5 then turned playmaker in supplying the telling ball which split the Ickwell defence wide open to allow Jack Boyd to slot past Castle for 1-0.

Boyd was unlucky not to double the score seven minutes later when, despite a challenge from James Vallom, he kept on his feet to go one-on-one with Castle only to see his chip fall into the arms of the grateful goalie. The visitors' Tim Senior then sent a perfect ball to the back post but Paul Reid was well off target.

Daniel Spring flashed a shot just the wrong side of Castle's woodwork while Castle made a fine one-handed save from Spring to ensure it remained 1-0 at the break.

With the wind reduced slightly after the interval, it took Ickwell ten minutes to mount their first assault, the late arriving and now on substitute Paul Beith unloading home defender Stephen Yorke on the edge of the penalty box before blasting his effort high over the crossbar before hero Ambrose was to make his first real contribution in getting down well at his near post to push Jay Neale's effort from close range away for a corner.

It now seemed only a matter of time before Ickwell would get back on terms and that moment came after 64 minutes. Neale was given the freedom of Harvey Close on the edge of the area to let an effort rip and that gave Ambrose no chance for 1-1.

This should have been the sign for the visitors to go on and claim their place in the third round draw but the hosts were far from ready to be rolled over and with stubborn defending, Ambrose was called into action twice more before the 90 minute mark.

He grabbed the ball off a slow reacting Wayne Morris then saved from Lee Tetley. Neale then went to ground under a challenge in the box from the evergreen John Parker which referee Jeff Aldous – who was luckily in the perfect position to judge – soon had them smiling has he correctly waived away the visitor's penalty claim.

So into extra time it went, the opening period first seeing Beith sky an effort over the bar while Boyd did the same at the other end. With spot kicks, looming the second period saw Ambrose commence his hero status.

Beith then bypassed him but with the open net begging, Ambrose somehow dropped down to scoop the ball off the boot of the Ickwell player to keep the tie all square. And with just two minutes of the match remaining, it was his opposite number Castle whose fine save from Neil Giles ensured it would go to a shoot out.

First up to the spot was Ickwell scorer Neale but down went Ambrose to beat away his effort. Then successful kicks from home players, Croxon, Boyd, Lex Jackson and Giles saw replies from Senior, Reid, Morris and Beith to leave it with just one last kick to take to win.

And while most of the home supporters were looking to the centre circle to see who was going to step forward, they should have been looking the other way as keeper Ambrose placed the ball on the spot before sending a luckless Castle the wrong way to put his Caldecote teammates into Monday's third round draw.

Caldecote 'A': Ryan Ambrose, Lex Jackson, Stephen Yorke, James Tomlin, Jack Warwick, Daniel Spring, John Parker, Barry Croxon, Sean Boyd, Jack Boyd, Neil Giles. Subs: James Horsman, Scott Lancaster.

Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves: Duncan Castle, Blair Woodward, Paul Reid, Robert Thirkell, Tim Senior, Steven Titmuss, Lee Tetley, Wayne Morris, Jay Neale, Matt Neighbour, James Vallom. Subs: Paul Beith, Neil Faulkner, Dean Elwart.


Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Blunham 1 Wilshamstead 1

BLUNHAM boss Kevin Smith was left shaking his head in bewilderment after his side failed to win this game which was switched to Hillgrounds for it means they slip back to fourth.

If anything it was the visitors who had the better of a goalless first half, going closest to breaking the deadlock with an effort from David Benson and, for the home side, Andy Smith had their best chance cleared off the goalline.

All was to change in the scond period when Blunham completely took over but after 30 minutes the scoreline still read 0-0 after Smith had seen four efforts come back off the crossbar and another two roll to safety off the posts while strike partner Michael Jones – playing against his old club – was guilty of missing two real sitters.

Then with ten minutes left to play Jones, in his over-anxiety to make amends, put a final touch to a goalbound header by Smith which was then duly ruled out for offside.

The final drama arrived in the closing two minutes, Benson giving Wilshamstead the lead while in time added, Tom Wisson's handball gave referee Zimunya chance to point to the penalty spot from where Jones slotted home for 1-1.


Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Caldecote 2 AFC Kempston Town 0

CALDECOTE extended their winning run to five games and maintained their season's unbeaten record at Harvey Close against the only side to have beaten them in the league so far this season, AFC Kempston Town.

But with overnight second-placers Campton netting a bigger win over Henlow, it is they who now head the table by virtue of having scored a greater number of goals than Neil Mapletoft's side.

Caldecote were soon in control and within ten minutes had taken the lead, Dave Daniels pinging in a cross which saw Kai Griffiths-Shilton lay the ball back into the path of Tom Wallace who sent it flying into the top corner. And the lead was doubled on the half-hour mark when Mark 'Milko' Endersby let fly from 25 yards.


Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Campton 3 Henlow 0

THIS local derby win was enough to send current champions Campton back into top spot by virture of now having scored four more goals than overnight leaders leaders Caldecote.

Campton were on their way to another three points when Andrew Hayday's cross was met by Gary Gibson's head. It was a lead they would have lost five minutes later had not home keeper Gary Cullerton pulled off a fine save to keep out a Greg Hall free kick.

Campton doubled their lead ten minutes into the new period when, following a goalmouth scramble, Gibson made no mistake with a simple tap-in effort. And 15 minutes from time he came up with his third for his hat-trick goal, that strike taking them to the top of the table after strike partner Hayday had again set him up some 20 yards out.
Paul Still then failed to tap the ball into an open net from less than six yards out while Cullerton saved again from Henlow's James Gentry five minutes from time.


Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Meltis Corinthians 6 Bedford Spts Athletic 1

THE Sweetboys are now up to third and still holding onto the season's only unbeaten record after a comfortable 6-1 win over bottom of the table Bedford Sports Athletic.

The hosts were quickly into their game with Moby Hussain shooting them ahead after five minutes. Neville Allen doubled it from the penalty spot after Jason Allison had been dragged to the floor. However just ten minutes ahead of the break it was Allen who gifted Ath an own goal for a 2-1.

The second period was just minutes old before when an Alec Woolston corner saw Allen made amends for 3-1 and from then on in it was a stroll for The Sweetboys.

Hussain netted his second for 4-1, Woolston did all the hard work in teeing-up Justin Patterson for the nap hand while Anup Kalyan completed the scoring.


Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Renhold United 2 Oakley Sports 2

WITH United without a win in three games and Sportsmen without a win in their last two, perhaps a draw was always going to be the outcome to this derby.

Marc Lagatta gave the vistors the lead ten minutes in and it stayed that way until an individual run from Sam Maddix five minutes ahead of the break levelled it.

United then bossed the early exchanges in the second period and it was no surprise when substitute Shaun Gilbert provided the cross from which Richard Hall headed them into the lead on the hour.

But despite United now having the visitors penned into their own half, that vital third goal just wouldn't come. Maddix spurned two clear chances whilst his new strike partner David McCarthy – following his midweek transfer from Elstow Abbey – also saw the visitors clear his effort off the line.

On 78 minutes, it should have been game over but Maddix saw his penalty saved by goalkeepper Ian Ratcliffe who made United and Maddix pay dearly two minutes later as John Searle blasted home the equaliser. As for home kepper Darren Gaynor, he saved well from Seale at the death otherwise the points would have been Oakleys.


Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Sharnbrook 2 Ickwell & Old Warden 2

HAVING won their last two home games, Sharnbrook got themselves off to the perfect start when Shaun Barnett shot them ahead after just three minutes.

But the lead lasted just nine minutes before Ickwell's Dave Trundley and Zak Rowe combined well to allow Steve Thomas to level it in his comeback game having been signed from Sandy 24 hours earlier.

Without a win on the road in their last two outings, Ickwell seemed on the way to putting that right 20 minutes into the new half when Dan Billington fouled Rowe in the penalty area and, from the resulting spot kick, Andrew Vallom gave his side the lead.

It was an advantage they held until two minutes from from time when a mad rush of blood by Ickwell keeper Vinny Govoni gift-wrapped the chance for Barnett to earn his side a share of the spoils with his second strike of the afternoon.


Bedfordshire League Division One
Royal Oak Kempston 1 Campton Reserves 3

CAMPTON Reserves were to extend their unbeaten ways to five games and send the home side to their sixth consecutive defeat which now sees them climb into third spot in the league table.

Visiting manager Ollie Morgan shocked his troops prior to the kick off by leaving himself out of the starting line-up to concentrate on his touchline duties with the ploy reaping early dividends when James Barnard shot them ahead after just five minutes only to see Oak's Gary Canzano level matters after twenty seven minutes before Steve Winch restored Campton's lead five minutes from the break.

Campton going on to seal the points via a own goal third twenty minutes into the second period.

Elsewhere in Division Two both the scheduled fixtures between Mulberry Bush against Clifton and Lidlington United versus Saffron were waterlogged off leaving us with just one game in this section and it was a game where Oakley Sports Reserves were to lose their 100 per cent season's home record when going down 3-2 to Marston Shelton Rovers who now move up into fifth spot in the league table.

Steve Marsh with a brace plus a penalty from Chris Patrickson giving Rovers the points despite a brace of home goals in reply from Ben Brown.


Bedfordshire League Division Three
Flitwick Town Reserves 1 Sandy A 4

SANDY 'A' were to pick up their first away league points of the season to move them three places up the league standings with this Steppingley Road win, after a blank first half Ivan Phelan gave Town the lead five minutes into the new period before an inspirited substitution by player-manager Daniel Bailey was to pay off big time when the oncoming Ross Collins levelled matters on the hour mark then became playmaker five minutes later for Dave Smith to shoot Sandy into a 2-1 lead,.

Bailey's assistant Ian Hammitt was then to pull the visitors 3-1 clear with a strike fifteen minutes from time but it was that man Bailey who was to have the final say and seal the victory with a goal of his own ten minutes from time.


Beds FA Junior Cup – Second Round
Potton Wanderers 3 Marston Social 2

AFTER their dismal display in league last weekend Wanderers manager Tyke Dennis for looking to throw himself onto the local bonfire but this weekend he was a much happier Guy has his young side sprung a surprise over Division One Marston Social to take them into the hat for the third round draw.

All appeared to be going to form early on when Daniel Parkes gave the visitors the lead before goals from Jack Aris and Chris Baines either side of the half-time break took the home side into a 2-1 lead, Parkes was then to net his second goal of the game to level matters on 51 minutes until with twenty minutes left to play James Hearson popped in the Wanderers winner.


Beds FA Junior Cup – Second Round
Dunton Reserves 0 Stevington 6

THIRD Division Dunton Reserves were no match at Horseshoes Close for Division One outfit Stevington who were to claim a easy victory via goals from Ian Woods, Clinton Tatham, Steff Watts, Martin Williams, Gavin White and Tony Riley.


Beds FA Junior Cup – Second Round
Blunham Reserves 2 Meltis Albion 1

DIVISION One high flyers and current cup holders Meltis Albion were to come off second best in this tie of the round to take Division Two league leaders Blunham Reserves into Round Three with this somewhat predictable shock result, The Albion with a goal from Michael Butler lead 1-0 at the break but a own goal on the hour mark drew the home side level before with extra time looming Dan Whitten netted the home winner ten minutes from time.

Elsewhere in the cup at Stanbridge Road Division Three Leighton United came up with a shock in beating first division visitors Woburn, 6-0 Simon Woolhead take the top honour with a hattrick supported by goals from Adam Barker, Daryl Smith and a Stuart Gore penalty, with another shock result coming at King George VI Playing Fields where Division Two side Kings AFC with two goals from Marcus Tomlin plus a strike from Thomas Cullen to replies from Josh Anderson and Pjerin Lusai were 3-2 home winners over Division One Kempston.

But away from these two ties the results were to go very much to form, Flitwick Town winning 5-3 at Westoning Recreation Club Reserves, Ben Wallington netting twice alongside Craig Hyde, Andy Pheby and Shaun Woodcraft against home replies from Andy Cooper, John Bass and Glen Robinson whilst with goals from Ruben Martinis and Matt Smith to a reply from a Earl Patterson penalty AFC Kempston Town Reserves netted a 2-1 home win over Meltis Corinthians Reserves.

It was somewhat easier for Marabese Ceramics who run out 5-0 home winners over Blue Chip thanks to goals from Dom Policelia, David Vellafuerte, Gurdeep Dosansh, Denver Donaldson and Daniel Sorrell whilst Marsh Leys with two goals from Damon Quigley and a strike from Simon Wade were 3-1 winners at Stewartby Village whose reply came via Ben Sparkes.

Kempston Hammers Sports name is also in the hat for the third round draw after winning 6-3 in extra time at home over Stopsley Baptish Church, braces of goals from James Grandidge and Nick Tysoe plus a own goal and a strike from Ashley Crowther doing the damage but it was the end of the road for Wilshamstead Reserves who had only a Dave Riddle goal to show for their 8-1 home defeat at the hands of USL Galacticos.

For Meppershall AFC its a place in the third round draw after Sandy Reserves withdrew from the competition prior to their second round tie whilst waterlogged pitches saw the Elstow Abbey v Riseley Sports Reserves and the Great Barford versus Meppershall Jurassic games called off.