Bedford Sunday League round-up

Queensmen had a tough match against Club Lewsey but pushed them all the way, succumbing in extra time four / three. Lewsey scored first early in the second half but Dan ‘Valderama’ Hollis turned this round to two / one with two goals for Queens with a quarter of an hour left. However, Lewsey drew level with five minutes to go to force extra time. The Luton side then powered to a four / two lead but Queens kept fighting and Neil Mangan reduced the deficit to set up a grand finale, but just could not find any more to force a penalty shoot-out.

It was a slightly better performance in the Beds FA Sunday Junior Cup where league teams won exactly half of the games played. Constant & Co Athletic, Wootton Wanderers and Kempston Hammers travelled south and beat their opposition, whilst Kempston Sunday, Meltis Mexicans and Bird in Hand Bedford won their games at home. Darek Jozwiack and James Allen both scored for Meltis against Toddington Rovers with close range efforts before half-time, and in the second period Danny Pilgrim, Scott Alleyne and Sundeep Gill all scored one apiece to make it a comfortable win for the high flying Mexicans. Kempston Sunday beat Crown Flitwick four / two despite going one / nil down just before half-time. Eddie Haddow then scored from a corner to change ends all square.

Shaun Winconeck made the game safe for Kempston with a fine hat-trick, but Crown did give themselves only a hint of a chance with their second goal in the dying minutes. Kempston Sunday held on to march into the second round. New Inn Biggleswade travelled to Marston Reds and turned them over four / one. The influential David Sells made a welcome return to the New Inn midfield, contributing two goals to their cause. Barry Sells and Joe Harrington were Inn’s other scorers. Drager United sank Ship Inn seven / two. Bird in Hand won three / one at home to Crawley Green Reserves, who were second best to Bird all game. Rob Pinny slotted home a loose ball following a free kick from Bird’s right wing, but Crawley Green levelled before half-time. David Kane bundled home Bird’s second goal from six yards and Craig Warcup followed suit with ten minutes to go in the match after good work by man of the match Cheveralls.

In the Beds FA Lower Junior Cup only six games were lost to ‘foreign opposition.’ Renhold were held one / one after extra time by USL Red Star, but Star went through on penalties. Bird in Hand Lower Stondon did a little better when they won their tie against Flitwick Eagles five / four on penalties. Bedford Panthers, Grafton Celtics, Gardeners Arms Biggleswade, Old Boys, BMC, Moor Lane Meltis and Caldecote Young Boys Reserves all went through.

Grafton Celtics scored the only goal of their game against M & DH Clapham in the first half, through Garrett McTernan, and managed to keep Clapham out in the second half against the wind. Old Boys had a good start but could easily have thrown the match away at Wells Stars, who took them to extra time. Mark Weir’s pair and one goal from Peter Duffy put the Boys three / nil up at half-time. They then managed to lose their cushion in the last twenty minutes of the second half. Darren Jones scored a penalty in extra time but Wells equalised again only for Ian Perkins to tap in the winner only two minutes away from a penalty shoot-out.

The Bedford Panthers’ manager, Adam Stoddard, has been selected as the Britannia Harrison & Rowley Manager of the month for September.

The Beds. F.A. Centenary Cup produced seven matches, five of which were won by Bedford league clubs. Shillington Pirates journeyed to AFC Compasses Luton and came away with a four / nil win. The Pirates’ scorers were Adam Chambers, Andrew Hayday, Greg Muir and Dean Swain. Meanwhile, Santaniello’s were having a pleasant trip home from Colworth with a six / nil win in their pockets. GNG Tigers hammered eight at Fox & Hounds Clapham and Goldington Rangers had a narrow two / one win at Houghton Athletic Reserves. Sandy Badgers scored the most, nine / one away at Hawthorn Athletic in deepest Luton.

All round a fairly satisfactory tally of victories for the league’s clubs, with the top teams not being at their best.

Back to League action next week.