Bedfordshire League: December 13

The main spotlight this weekend falls upon the ties at the quarter-final stage of the Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy.
Caldecote Reserves v Wootton Village PNL-140112-122206002Caldecote Reserves v Wootton Village PNL-140112-122206002
Caldecote Reserves v Wootton Village PNL-140112-122206002

Just three Bedfordshire County Football League clubs are left in the competition, two of them going head to head at Church Lane where AFC Oakley M&DH play host to AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. The sides are yet to meet in league action this season but with the hosts still holding down an unbeaten home record you would perhaps favour them to progress into the last four despite the visitors having only suffered one away defeat on the road in league action thus far this season.

The third club involved are Renhold United, for them it’s a trip to McMullen Park to take on South Midlands League Bedford FC.

Action away from the Trophy brings about a programme of six Premier Division supported by Sportsform fixtures. With second place Renhold United in trophy action it gives the current unbeaten leaders Shefford Town & Campton a chance to draw three points clear should they gain the full points from their visit to Sharnbrook Upper School where they will be hosted by tenth place Eastcotts AFC.

With third place AFC Oakley M&DH also on trophy duty and fourth place Marston Shelton Rovers also sitting the afternoon out there is an opportunity for fifth place Flitwick Town to nudge ever closer into the championship mix. At their Football Community Centre base they face bottom of the table Ickwell & Old Warden for the second consecutive weekend having last weekend won 6-0 on The Green.

Thurleigh Playing Fields is the venue third from bottom of the table Caldcote will travel to looking for their first away win of the season against fourth from bottom of the table hosts AFC Turvey who are still yet to win on home soil this season and without a win from their last 13 outings.

Over at Hurst Grove, second from bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports will be looking for just their second home win of the season when called upon by seventh place Sharnbrook who will be looking to avoid their third consecutive away defeat and just down the road at Weston Park, sixth place hosts Wootton Blue Cross seek out their third home win on the bounce when visited by 12th place Wilstead.

The final top flight game is at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, the venue at which ninth place hosts Sandy still without a home win to their name this season face a visit from eleventh place Pavenham who themselves have won just the once on the road in league action this season.

In Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford action it’s also a programme of just six games. Back in action following their rest last week will be both of the top two clubs and for league leaders Henlow that means a trip to Cople Playing Fields looking to defend their seasons unbeaten away ways against the hosting Bedford SA. Whilst second place Elstow Abbey are in home Warren action looking to take their current winning ways up to four games against the visiting Sundon Park Rangers.

With third place Cranfield United sitting the afternoon out, Great Barford could once again draw level on points with them should league win number eight on the bounce be achieved at Fisher Close when they play hosts to ninth place AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves who will hit the road looking to take their current unbeaten away league run up to five games. Whilst at Miller Road, fifth place Meltis Albion will be hoping to move ever nearer into the promotion race and extend their home winning ways up to three games when called upon by tenth place Shefford Town & Campton Reserves.

Meantime, down at the other end of the league table second from bottom Marabese Ceramics still without a home win to their name this season will be playing hosts at Ickleford Recreation Ground to Queens Park Crescents who will be in search of their first away win of the season and at New Grounds, third from bottom of the table AFC Harlington now unbeaten in their last two home starts play hosts to eleventh place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves who have now lost their last six games.

In Division Two for leaders Westoning it’s a trip to Cutler Hammer looking to preserve their seasons unbeaten away ways against the hosting sixth place Kempston Hammers Sports and for second place Clapham Sports its home action at King George VI Playing Fields looking to extend their home unbeaten ways up to five games against the visiting ninth place Kempston Athletic who have been beaten just the once on the road in league action thus far this season.

For third place FC Houghton it’s a trip on the road to Jubilee Playing Fields in search of their tenth consecutive win against bottom of the table hosts Wilstead Reserves who are still looking for their first win of the season and for fourth place Stevington the quest will be to retain their seasons unbeaten home ways and notch up win number eight on the bounce when called upon at their Playing Field headquarters by fourth from bottom of the table Bedford United.

Other action comes at Harvey Close, the venue at which third from bottom Caldecote Reserves will be looking for just their third home win of the season against the visiting fifth place Elstow Abbey Reserves who will be looking to end a run of five games without a victory and at Horseshoes Close, tenth place Moggerhanger United will be in search of just their second home win of the season when seventh place Wootton Village beaten just the twice on the road in league action this season come calling.

The final game in this division is at Marston Playing Fields, the venue at which second from bottom of the table hosts Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves receive a visit from eleventh place Renhold United Reserves who are currently on a five game losing away run.

In Division Three action is down to just a programme of four games.With league leaders Lea Sports PSG sitting the afternoon out the top side in action will be second place Atletico Europa who will be expected to maintain their seasons unbeaten away ways and collect the points which will take them to the top of the table when they journey to Greenfield Road to be hosted by third from bottom of the table Westoning U20 who are currently on a five game home losing run. Whilst fifth place Dinamo Flitwick go into home Redborne School 3G action against the visiting eleventh place Sandy Reserves.

Other action coming at Harvey Close, the venue at which bottom of the table Caldecote U20 now on a five game losing run face a visit from eighth pace Flitwick Town Reserves and just down the road on the Green, sixth place Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves are in local derby action against second from bottom of the table Mid Beds Tigers who are now on a seven game losing run.

The reduced league programme is being brought about by the opening round action in this season’s Watson Shield.

Over at Crawley Road, Cranfield United Reserves still unbeaten on home turf this season play hosts to a White Eagles side who are yet to be beaten on the road this season and at the Bedford Academy, FC Serbia receive a visit from a Clifton side who have suddenly lost their last three away league outings.

The final tie is at Rectory Road where Shefford Town & Campton A play hosts to Bedfordshire Youth Saturday League side Toddington Rovers U17. These three Shield games kicking off at 1.30pm to allow for the provision of extra time and the dreaded penalty shoot-out if required.

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