A second successive title for Blunham

BLUNHAM duly retained the Premier Division crown by virtue of a 5-3 victory against former champions Caldecote on Saturday. It was their eighth home win on a spin to remain unbeaten at their Moggerhanger home all season.

Andrew Vallom gave them the lead from the penalty spot with 20 minutes gone after Nick Randall had upended Carl Warner in the area. And things got even worse for Randall seven minutes later when he headed past stand-in Cally keeper Nathan Buckland for 2-0.

On the half hour Zak Rowe made it 3-0 but it was game on again a minute before half time when Paul Lawrence reduced the deficit to 3-1. But Blunham were in no mood to surrender their title and when Barrington Belgrave and Steve Thomas added to the scoreline in the opening 13 minutes of the new half, it looked game over at 5-1.

And that proved to be correct, despite Caldecote strikes from Paul Lawrence on 64 minutes and David Lenton six minutes later for 5-3 at the final whistle.

It meant that Shefford Town & Campton ended their campaign a point short in second spot following their own 3-1 win at AFC Kempston Town. They also ended the season unbeaten in their last 13 outings.

Town’s Matty Smith gave his side an 11th minute lead before visitor’s goals for Andrew Hayday on 26 minutes, Adam Larsen on 71 minutes and Michael Jones three minutes from time condemned the host to a bottom two finish.

Just creeping out of the drop zone on goal difference by a single goal were Woburn. They were beaten 2-1 at Flitwick Town thanks to a Dean Warren penalty plus a strike from Mark Bartlett, the reply from Lewis Murray.

At the other end of the table, Renhold United missed out on a third place finish on goal-difference only despite ending the season with a 5-1 home win over Oakley Sports. Jason Allison and Tommy Foyle both netted twice alongside one for Paul Beattie, the Sportsmen’s reply from Justin Patterson.

The final top flight game saw Leighton United end their season on a seven game unbeaten run with a 3-2 home win over Sharnbrook. Alex Bradley, Layne Eadie and Jamie Bather were on United’s scoresheet against replies from Neil Singleton and Luke Devine.

Division One

WITH the league title already in the bag, champions Bedford Hatters drew lots for shirt numbers on their visit to next week’s Centenary Cup final opponents Bedford Sports Athletic and came unstuck in a 5-3 defeat. Ashley Mead netted four goals plus a single strike from Daniel Bond outscored Hatters’ marksmen Tom Redmond, Ben Brown and Simon Pixley.

Elswewhere Potton Wanderers, after claiming the silver medals in midweek, finished the season with a 2-0 away win at third place Marston Shelton Rovers thanks to Chris Baines and Danny Fox.

For Sandy there was a top four finish after they ended their campaign with a 4-2 win at FC Meppershall. Daniel Stafford bagged a hat-trick with John Joe Pekszye also on the scoresheet against a brace from Craig Damon.

Alas for Caldecote Reserves, they failed to raise a side for their visit to Luton Old Boys, a result of which sees Old Boys – with the three awarded points – climb out of the drop zone at the expense of Blunham Reserves.

Division Two

TOP scorers in Division Two were champions Lea Sports PSG with an 8-1 win at Shefford Town & Campton Reserves. It meant they ended the season unbeaten in their last 18 outings. James Owofisan netted a hat-trick while there were single strikes from Hayden Fletcher, Meshaeh Hendrickson, Liam Trainor, Martin Collins and Hajeem Raja which did the damage against a lone home reply from Tom Scurfield.

For Westoning Recreation Club it will be second spot and the silver medals following their 1-0 home win over Elstow Abbey, Ian Buckingham’s 40 yard free kick sealing the points in their favour.

Elsewhere Marabese Ceramics ensured they would finish above the drop zone with a 1-0 home win over Great Barford thanks to James Tizard’s vital stike.

And that also applies to Stopsley Park who ended a run of eight games without a win with a 4-3 home victory over Bromham United. James Smart with a hat-trick (including a 90th minute winner) plus Matt Palmer were on the scoresheet against United replies from Phill Kempshall (two) and Sheridan Lindsey.

So staying in the drop zone are Stevington who were beaten 2-1 by Clifton who duly ended an eight game losing run. Paul Rowe and Mark Gearing were on song for Clifton against a Martin Williams reply.

Meanwhile Lidlington United Sports were 2-1 winners at bottom of the table Kempston Hammers Sports thanks to Chris Roberts and an own goal, the Hammers scorer being Lee Shergold.

Division Three

WITH the title already won, Sharnbrook Reserves placed a dent in second placed M & DH Oakley’s chances of promotion by beating them 5-2 at Lodge Road. Kevin ‘Itchy’ Harris netted a hat-trick together with goals from Jayme Harris and Darryl Gadsden while there was a brace from Shaun Cafferty in reply.

However that dent was somewhat repaired by defeats for Oakley’s three challengers for the silver medals. Co-op Sports lost for the first time in nine home outings 2-1 at the hands of Cranfield United Reserves. Andrew Ayres saw his goal overhauled by a brace from Antony Deacon.

Pavenham were also beaten 4-2 on home soil by Renhold Village after Marko Tobzdic (two), Dan Luke and Simon Wade netted for the Village against home replies from Dave Netherway and Daniel Doyle.

Also beaten were Sundon Park Rangers. They had their seven game unbeaten away record ended with a 3-1 defeat at Dunton Reserves for whom Nicky Albone was the hat-trick hero against a Rangers reply from Luke Evans.

Royal Oak Kempston took their unbeaten home ways to five games with a 3-1 win over Flitwick Town Reserves thanks to Daniel Bevan, Sean Boland and Gareth Arzu against a Town reply from Luke Cunniff.

As for Caldecote ‘A’, it was a sad end to the season after they also failed to raise a side to visit Wilshamstead Reserves.

Division Four

THE only issue to settle on the last day of the Division Four season was who would finish third in the final table. That honour went to Potton Town after they ran out 3-1 home winners over Wootton Village. Chris Cooper bagged a brace and James Pyman one against a Village reply from Tony Boutall.

The three points for Town taking them four points clear of Thurleigh whose hopes of that third place disappeared with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Dinamo Flitwick for whom Ben Canning bagged both goals.

For champions AFC Turvey, it was a 100 per cent perfect season with their 26th win on the bounce, this time 3-0 at Eastcotts after Saimir Guri (two) John Guiney found the back of the net.

Second place Goldington were awarded all three points when Lea Sports PSG Reserves failed to raise a side to travel to play them in Mowsbury Park.

Ending the season on a high were Sandy Reserves. They claimed win number four on the bounce, 4-2 at home over Bedford Park Rangers thanks to Nathan Morris, Reece Stratton, Marcus Tait and a Brad Smith penalty with replies from Shaun Finlay and Jason Griffith.

Also final day winners were Stewartby Village. They beat Clifton Reserves 3-2 with goals from Tom Wheelhouse (two) and Michael Darnell against replies from Robert Harradine and Paul Roberts.

Bank Holiday Monday

THERE was just one league game on Monday and that was in Division Three with Renhold Village claiming their fourth win on the bounce, a 3-0 success against Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ than ks to a Carl Townsend hat-trick.

Weekend Preview

THERE is more action tonight (Friday) at Biggleswade’s Second Meadow who are staging this season’s Centenary Cup Final between Bedford Sports Athletic and Bedford Hatters at 7.45pm when the Hatters will be looking to make it a league and cup double.

Just down the road at Langford’s Forde Park it’s the Biggleswade Knockout Cup Final between Caldecote and Ickwell & Old Warden and that also kicks-off at 7.45pm.

Then it’s back to Second Meadow tomorrow (Saturday) for this season’s Britannia Cup Final which is between Leighton United and Shefford Town & Campton. That game kicks off at 3pm.

Also taking place on tomorrow are the final five league fixtures of the 2010/11 season. In Division One at Pirton Recreation Ground, champions Lea Sports PSG entertain Marabese Ceramics while at Rectory Road, Shefford Town & Campton Reserves host Elstow Abbey.

In Division Three, depending on midweek results, the silver medal could still be up for grabs at either Horseshoes Close, where Co-op Sports visit Dunton Reserves or at Greenfield Road, the venue where Pavenham travel to meet Westoning Recreation Club Reserves.

The final game is due at Digswell Playing Fields where Shefford Town & Campton ‘A’ host Renhold Village. All kick off at 2.30pm, however please watch the website www.bedfordshirefootballleague.co.uk for any amendments.

The final action is on Thursday, May 12 when it’s back to Second Meadow for the final of the Watson Shield. That’s between Co-op Sports and Royal Oak Kempston at 7.45pm while 24 hours later it’s down to Arlesey Town’s Armadillo Stadium for the final of this season’s Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup between Lea Sports PSG and Pavenham. It kicks off at 7.30pm.