Bedfordshire League preview

With the Premier Division supported by Sportsform championship race now hotting up, the top game of the weekend could well come at Renhold Playing

Fields.Where two of the leading contenders go head to head when Renhold

United play hosts to new league leaders Shefford Town & Campton. United having been beaten just twice this season on home soil will perhaps start the slight favourites given their visitors poor haul of points away from their Rectory Road base.

However there is another big clash at Jubilee Playing Fields, the venue where second place Wilshamstead take on Caldecote.The hosts, the surprise package in this seasons championship race being still unbeaten on home soil this season and could in effect end their visitors own championship hopes should they collect the full three points on offer.

The fifth championship chasing club are of course Blunham, now unbeaten in their last ten league outings and still maintaining an unbeaten home record this season, you would expect them to collect the points when they host Oakley Sports at their Moggerhanger Playing Fields headquarters.

Over at Stanbridge Road,you would expect hosts Leighton United to return to winning ways on home soil when paid a visit by bottom of the table AFC Kempston Town, Town having won just once on their travels this season.

If Sharnbrook are to climb away from the drop zone, then there is a need for them to collect more points at their home Lodge Road base where they have already been beaten six times this term. The visitors this weekend are Dunton, they are now slowly hitting form and will be no easy nut to crack for the home side.

The final game of the day comes at Steppingley Road, hosts Flitwick Town taking on Arlesey Town Reserves. The visitors travel still looking for their first away win of the season to face a Town side that has lost their last two home games.Facts which suggest this game could well end up all square.

The Division One championship chase is of course already down to a three horse race, this weekend, league leaders Potton Wanderers will be hitting the road for local derby action on The Green against an Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves side that will be seeking out just their second home win of the season.

For fellow contenders Marston Shelton Rovers, its home action at Marston Playing Fields against Bedford Sports Athletic,you would expect them to collect all three points.Whilst Bedford Hatters hit the road to Groveside and a meeting with Henlow. Hatters fully expected to collect against a home side that has suddenly gone off the boil.

Down at the other end of the table, its home Chaul End Lane action for relegation threatened Luton Old Boys who host Sandy The visitors, unbeaten on their last three trips on the road starting the favourites to collect the points.

For fellow strugglers Caldecote Reserves, it’s a trip to Mowsbury Park and a meeting with FC Meppershall.With Caldecote having won just once on their travels this season you would expect the home side to collect the points.

The final action of the day comes at Miller Road between hosts Meltis Albion and Blunham Reserves.Albion beaten just twice on home soil this season by Marston Shelton Rovers and Potton Wanderers, should ensure their visitors will not collect what would only be their second away win of the season.

By contrast the Division Two promotion race still has six live contenders involved, two of which go head to head at The Warren, the venue for Elstow Abbey’s home clash with Clifton.The Abbey now enjoying a four game winning home run facing a Clifton side that has been beaten just once on the road this season.

The only other contender enjoying home advantage are Lea Sports PSG, they host Stevington at Pirton Recreation Ground. With the visitors yet to win on the road this season and PSG still 100% on home soil, this looks a home banker, famous last words.

For the other three clubs its trips on the road, Arlesey Social Galacticos heading for Rectory Road and local derby action against Shefford Town & Campton Reserves. Town have won just twice on home soil all season but with The Social without an away win since mid-November, perhaps just perhaps a shock might be on the cards.

It will be no easy game for Bromham United, they head to King George VI Playing Fields to face Kings AFC. United have been beaten just once on the road this season, but they face a host side that has won its last four home outings.

The sixth contender being Queens Park Crescents, they make the trip to Cutler Hammer to take on bottom of the table Kempston Hammers Sports. With just two away wins to their name this term, Crescents need to make that three if they are to remain in the promotion race going into the tail end of the season.

Other action comes at Barford Playing Fields, the venue for Great Barford’s home clash with Westoning Recreation Club. The Rec Boys with only three away wins to their name this season will have to be at their very best if they are to become only the third club to lower the home sides colours on home soil this season.

Whilst the final action sees Lidlington United Sports take on Marabese Ceramics at Hurst Grove.United beaten just once on home soil this season favourites to collect the three points.

In Division Three, the game of the day belongs to Hillgrounds, where the unbeaten league leaders Pavenham take on second place visitors Sharnbrook Reserves. With Sharnbrook having lost their last two away games, should this become game number three then the league title even at this early stage of the season would look to be Pavenham’s.

For fellow promotion seekers M & DH Oakley, its home action against bottom of the table Shefford Town & Campton A. Having been beaten just once on home soil you would fancy the hosts to collect the points despite the visitors having won their last two away games.

Also still in the promotion shake up are Cranfield United Reserves, for them its home action on Friday evening at Crawley Road against Flitwick Town Reserves. United firm favourites to stretch their current eight game unbeaten run against a Town side, despite their last away defeat coming as far back as mid-October.

Sundon Park Rangers are also in the promotion mix, for them it’s home Stockwood Park action against Wilshamstead Reserves.With Rangers having only lost to Pavenham on home soil this season and the visitors beaten in their last two away outings,a home win looks on the cards.

Down at the other end of the table, Westoning Recreation Club Reserves will be home Greenfield Road action against Renhold Village.With the Rec Boys having not won on home soil since mid-October and the Village with just one away victory to their name all season, you would fancy this game could go either way or indeed end in stalemate.

Also with just one away win to their name all season are Caldecote A, they journey to Gold Street looking to put that matter right when hosted by a Riseley Sports side that has won three of their last five home outings.

The final action of the day in this division comes at Horseshoes Close,the venue for Dunton Reserves home clash with Royal Oak Kempston. With the visitors having won just once on the road this season, a home win looks the most likely outcome.

Division Four action also sees a clash between the top two clubs when 100% league leaders AFC Turvey make their way to Mowsbury Park to face Goldington.The hosts knowing anything but a fifth home win on the bounce will all but hand the league crown to their visitors, despite number wise the season is now only just entering its second half.

Of the other serious promotion candidates, Eastcotts head to Whiston Crescent to face Clifton Reserves.The hosts unbeaten in their last five home outings will be no pushovers. Plus Thurleigh journey to Mowsbury Park to be hosted by Goldington Hanmmers.The Hammers have not won on home soil since mid-October, whilst the visitors last away victory also came in the same month, thus suggesting this game could go either way or more likely end all square.

Dinamo Flitwick are also not out of the promotion race, they head to Sunderland Road looking for away win number five on the bounce against Potton Town. However, the Town having lost just twice on home soil this season could well spring a surprise.

Down at the other end of the table, it’s a big game at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, the venue where Sandy Reserves entertain bottom of the table Wootton Village who have failed to win any of their last ten outings.

Elsewhere, fellow strugglers Kempston Athletic take on Lea Sports PSG Reserves at Hillgrounds.The visitors having only lost one of their last five away outings will start favourites to prevail. Whilst down at Stewartby Way, hosts Stewartby Village look for home win number three on the bounce against Bedford Park Rangers.