Bedfordshire League: November 23 preview

Second place Lidlington United Reserves return to Harvey Close just 14 days after knocking their hosts Caldecote out of the Beds FA Senior Trophy to this time face them in league action.

Over at Greenfields, third place Shillington now unbeaten in their last eight league outings and on home soil this season welcome fourth place Renhold United - whose away record this season suggests the Shills will be firm favourites to collect another three points.

Fifth place Wilstead will be looking for just their second away win of the season when they journey to Redborne School to take on sixth place Flitwick Town.

Elsewhere at Pavenham Playing Fields, it’s local derby action between hosts Pavenham and the visiting AFC Oakley Sports M&DH who make the short journey looking to end a run of two consecutive away defeats.

Whilst at Weston Park, where Wootton Blue Cross have been beaten just once in league action this season, the visitors are Shefford Town & Campton.

In Division One, leaders Goldington - still unbeaten on the road this season - make tracks for Rectory Road to face a Shefford Town & Campton Reserves side that has won just once on home soil.

Second place Sandy head for Stockwood Park to defend their own unbeaten away ways against third place Sundon Park Rangers who still remain with a 100% perfect home record for the season.

Over at Cople Playing Fields, Bedford Sports Athletic are now unbeaten in their last four starts as they receive a visit from Luton Boys Seniors who have won just the once on home soil this season. Whilst at Woodlands, Brickhill Tigers will be looking for their third win on the bounce when visited by Henlow, yet to win on the road this seaso.

Other action comes at Bromham Playing Fields, the venue at which hosts Bromham United will be looking to end a five game losing run against the visiting Eastcotts AFC who are now unbeaten in their last four league starts - and at Crawley Road where Woburn Lions will not find it easy to halt a run of four games without a victory as their visitors are a Marabese Ceramics side who are now unbeaten in their last six league outings.

In Division Two leaders Potton Town will be on their travels to Crawley Road to defend their season’s unbeaten ways against hosts Cranfield United. Whilst second place AFC Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves look for their third home win on the bounce at their Playing Fields headquarters against a Riseley Sports side who will be hitting the road in search of their first away point/points of the season.

Also hitting the road will be fourth place Queens Park Crescents who head to New Grounds, Harlington looking for their first three points haul for five games against hosts AFC Harlington. At Whiston Crescent, fifth place Clifton take on a returning to form Kings AFC.

Other action comes at Solway Way North, the venue at which second from bottom of the table Co-op Sports look for their first win against the club immediately above them in the standings Great Barford for whom it will be only their second away game of the season.

At Renhold Playing Fields bottom of the table Renhold United Reserves also look for their first win of the season against the visiting AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves.

The major attention of action for division three and four sides this weekend switches to the opening round ties in this seasons Watson Shield.

Of the 11 ties taking place, eight of them present a division four side with the chance of a spot of giant-killing over a division three counterpart.

Perhaps the tie of the round will take place at Wootton Recreation Ground where division four high flyers Wootton Village welcome division three leaders Meltis Albion.

The boot will in effect be on the other foot for division four Meltis Albion Reserves who, at their Miller Road base, will really fancy their chances of causing an upset when called upon by division three strugglers Clifton Reserves.

Of the other two division four sides enjoying home advantage, you would perhaps fancy Atletico Europa’s chance of a greater upset when they are visited by Kempston Con Club Sports than those of Elstow Abbey Reserves slipping up on their visit to Moggerhanger Playing Fields to face Moggerhanger United.

Of the quartet of division four sides hitting the road, it’s difficult to look beyond the home side emerging the winners but its fair to say, Clapham Sports on their visit to Cutler Hammer to face Kempton Athletic and Cranfield United Reserves en route for a Jubilee Playing Fields encounter with Wilstead Reserves are more likely to cause an upset than Shefford Town & Campton A who visit Westoning at Greenfield Road or Flitwick Town Reserves at Marston Playing Fields against Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves are to.

In the single all division three game, Bedford Panthers will travel to Hillgrounds for a meeting with an AFC Bush side they have already beaten 4-1 in league action.Whilst the two all division four clashes see a repeat of their league fixtures last weekend.

Dinamo Flitwick return to Blunham Playing Fields to face Bedford Park Rangers having lost the league encounter 6-1 and having played them at Bedford Road Recreation Ground where they won 2-1 Sandy Reserves now travel to Moore Crescent for a quick return encounter against FC Houghton.

With all this Watson Shield action the division three league programme is down to just a single game when at their Playing Field headquarters Stevington could jump up into second spot in the league table should they collect a full three point haul from their encounter with the visiting Kempston Hammers Sports.

Likewise in division four the league programme is just a single game, this coming at Harvey Close where Caldecote A look to halt a three game losing run against the visiting Mid Beds Tigers.