Bedfordshire League preview: February 21

United will be looking to avoid just their second defeat of the season against a Town side who will hit the road now unbeaten in their last six away outings of which five have been won. They are looking to avenge their only home defeat of the season which came at the hands of United back in mid-October.

There is another top of the table clash taking part at Weston Park, the venue at which fifth place Wootton Blue Cross, winners of their last four home starts and now unbeaten in the last seven outings, welcome second place Shefford Town & Campton who are still looking for their first victory of 2015.

Just down the road at Hillgrounds, eighth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College host to second from bottom Caldecote looking for just their second home win against a Caldecote side who are yet to win on the road.

The original game between these sides at Hillgrounds in early October was abandoned just five minutes from time due to a floodlight failure with the home side leading 3-1.

Other action comes at Sharnbrook Upper School, the venue at which seventh place Eastcotts AFC look for their third home win on the bounce against the visiting 11th place Sandy who are now on a run of six games without a victory, albeit four of those encounters ending all square.

Whilst at their Playing Field headquarters sixth place Marston Shelton Rovers now having lost their last three home games welcome 12th place Wilstead.

The final top flight action is at Pavenham Playing Fields where tenth place hosts Pavenham, winners of four of their last five home outings, are called upon by bottom side Ickwell & Old Warden who will hit the road looking for their third away win on the bounce.

For Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford league leaders Elstow Abbey it’s a short trip on the road to face Meltis Albion at Miller Road. The Abbey are looking for their fifth away win on the bounce to extend their unbeaten ways to 12 games against fifth place Albion who will be in search of their fourth home win on the bounce.

Also hitting the road will be second place Cranfield United now winners of their last eight games who head to King George VI Playing Fields to take on twelfth place AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves whose lone home win of the season in their seven starts to date came way back in September 2014 against Queens Park Crescents.

Talking of the tenth place Crescents, they will be on the road to Grange Road looking for just their second away win against third from bottom of the table Bedford SA who are currently on a three game losing home run.

Whilst at Groveside, third place Henlow, following two consecutive home defeats against Great Barford and Elstow Abbey, look to repair the damage against the visiting seventh place Sundon Park Rangers.

Over at Fisher Close fourth place Great Barford are now unbeaten in their last seven home starts. The visitors are bottom of the table AFC Harlington who have won just the twice on the road all season, both coming in their last three outings.

At Mill Lane, eighth place Potton Town now on a three game losing run play hosts to ninth place Riseley Sports whose seasons away record shows up just one victory from seven outings to date.

The final action in this division takes place at Rectory Road being the venue at which eleventh place hosts Shefford Town & Campton Reserves look to take their unbeaten home ways up to three games against the visiting second from bottom of the table Marabese Ceramics.

For the lower division sides the main spotlight this weekend falls upon the semi-final ties in this season’s Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup where at the Hockey Centre Bedford United host Luton District & South Beds League side Caddington Rangers Reserves and at Crawley Road, Division Three high flyers Cranfield United Reserves look for a spot of giant killing over the visiting division two high flyers Stevington.

With these cup ties taking place the division two league programme is reduced to just a programme of five games.

For fourth place championship contenders FC Houghton, now unbeaten in their last 14 games including six straight wins on the road, make the trip to Horseshoes Close to face ninth place Moggerhanger United who have been beaten just the twice on home soil all season.

For fellow championship hopefuls Westoning, who currently sit in third spot, it’s home action at Greenfield Road looking to take their winning ways up to 10 games against the visiting 12th place Meltis Albion Reserves who last won on the road back in mid-October at Wootton Village and who are currently on a nine game losing run.

Other action comes at Harvey Close, the venue at which third from bottom of the table Caldecote Reserves face a visit from tenth place Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves and at the Warren, fifth place Elstow Abbey Reserves look to improve their recent poor home form when called upon by eighth place Kempston Athletic.

Whilst the final action takes place at Wootton Recreation Ground, the venue at which sixth place Wootton Village now losers of their last two home starts play hosts to bottom of the table Wilstead Reserves.

The Division Three league programme is also reduced to one of five games with the stand out game coming at the Flitwick Community Football Centre where current league leaders Flitwick Town Reserves look to retain their unbeaten home ways against the visiting fellow promotion hopefuls in the shape of fourth place Atletico Europa who will look to extend their current unbeaten away ways up to three games.

Whilst for second place Lea Sports PSG now on a five game winning away run it’s a visit to Bedford Road Recreation Ground to face tenth place Sandy Reserves who will be looking for just their second home win of the season.

Other action comes at Harvey Close, the venue at which the bottom two sides clash when second from bottom of the table hosts Caldecote U20 with just one home win to their name this season face bottom of the table Mid Beds Tigers losers of their last five away outings.

Whilst over at Redborne School on the 3G surface seventh place hosts Dinamo Flitwick look to return to winning home ways against the visiting ninth place Shefford Town & Campton A.

The final action coming at the Bedford Academy, the venue at which fifth place FC Serbia now unbeaten in their last seven outings play hosts to third from bottom of the table Westoning U20.