Bedfordshire League preview: December 20

Out of the programme of eight games in the Premier Division supported by Sportsform Division, 50% of the games are a reverse of the fixtures played last weekend - if we accept AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College are entertaining AFC Oakley M&DH in league rather than cup action. The visitors sit in third place in the league table and are lookingto extend their unbeaten run to six games.

Of those meeting for the second time inside seven days, league leaders Shefford Town & Campton will look for revenge when they go into their home Hitchin Road encounter against Eastcotts AFC who thus far have only won one of their six away league outings to date.

At Jubilee Playing Fields, hosts Wilstead with just one home win to their name this season welcome sixth place Wootton Blue Cross who are now unbeaten in their last five outings.

Also meeting for the second time are second from the bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports with just one home win welcome seventh place Sharnbrook.

The pick of the other four fixtures perhaps comes at Marston Playing Fields where fourth place hosts Marston Shelton Rovers take on second place Renhold United who will hit the road looking to preserve their seasons 100% league away record.

Also perhaps glad to be hitting the road will be third from bottom of the table AFC Turvey whose eight trips away from their Thurleigh base have brought about just one defeat. They travel to the Green to be hosted by bottom of the table Ickwell & Old Warden who will be looking for just their second home win of the season to end a run of three consecutive league defeats.

Over at Harvey Close, Caldecote host a Pavenham who thus far have won just the once on the road this season. At Bedford Road Recreation Ground, Sandy who are yet to win on home soil this season but nevertheless currently unbeaten in their last four starts play hosts to fifth place Flitwick Town who will be in search of their fourth away win on the bounce to extend their current unbeaten ways up to seven games.

The Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford action brings about a similar scenario to that in the top division with five of the seven games being a reverse of last weekend’s fixtures. The two exceptions are at Gold Street, where league leaders Henlow head to face the eighth place Riseley Sports who will be in search of home win number three on the bounce. At Mill Lane seventh placed hosts Potton Town welcome third place Cranfield United who will be looking for their fifth league win on the bounce.

Of the five pairings meeting again inside seven days second place Elstow Abbey winners of seven out of their eight away league outings this season will be en route to Stockwood Park Athletic Stadium to face the hosting sixth place Sundon Park Rangers and fourth place Great Barford now on an eight game winning run make tracks for King George VI Playing Fields to face eleventh place AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves who have just one home league win to their name this season.

Over at Hillgrounds, ninth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves will seek out their first home league win against the visiting second from bottom of the table AFC Harlington who will hit the road in search of their first away point. Whilst in Allen Park, Queens Park Crescents host Marabese Ceramics who have from their six away league outings to date this season won just the once.

At Rectory Road Shefford Town & Campton Reserves, beaten in their last two home starts, host fifth place Meltis Albion whose away league record to date shows they have won just the once.

Action likewise in Division Two sees five of the seven scheduled fixtures being reverse games from last weekend. The two exceptions come at Miller Road where ninth place hosts Meltis Albion Reserves now on a two game losing home run receive a visit from third place FC Houghton who are currently on a 10 game winning league run and at Cutler Hammer where eighth place hosts Kempston Athletic will be firm favourites to collect all three points when called upon by bottom of the table Wilstead Reserves who are still looking for their first win of the season.

Of those meeting again, league leaders Westoning will be in home action at Greenfield Road where they have lost just the once all season against seventh place Kempston Hammers Sports whose away league record this season shows just one victory from seven outings. Whilst fourth place Stevington having lost just the once on the road this season and currently on an eight game winning run make tracks for the Hockey Centre for a meeting against Bedford United.

Elsewhere over at the Warren hosts Elstow Abbey Reserves having failed to win any of their last three home league outings will be expected to return to winning home ways when called upon by third from bottom of the table Caldecote Reserves now losers on their last seven trips away from Harvey Close and also expecting to return to winning ways on home soil will be Renhold United Reserves when at their Playing Field headquarters they are called upon by second from bottom of the table Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves whose away record this season currently reads played six, lost six. But wait a minute, was not their clash switched to Renhold last weekend with a 6-1 win for the Rovers.

The final game is at Wootton Recreation Ground where sixth place Wootton Village play hosts to tenth place Moggerhanger United.

In Division Three it’s a programme of six games where 50% of the teams meet again inside a week. At the Bedford Academy, second place Atletico Europa now on a five game unbeaten run play hosts to third from bottom of the table Westoning U20. Whilst at the Sandy Academy, its a rematch local derby between bottom of the table hosts Mid Beds Tigers and the visiting fourth place Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves.The home side looking for their first home win of the season against their local rivals who thus far have been beaten just the once on the road this season.

Meantime at the Flitwick Community Football Centre, sixth place Flitwick Town Reserves will be expected to maintain their seasons unbeaten home ways when called upon by second from bottom of the table Caldecote U20 who will not only be looking for their first away win of the season but also to end their current six game losing run.

Elsewhere other action comes at Pirton Recreation Ground, the venue at which the hosting league leaders Lea Sports PSG now on a six game winning run are visited by tenth place near neighbours Shefford Town & Campton A who have failed to win any of their last four league outings and at Whiston Crescent, third place Clifton receive a visit from eleventh place Sandy Reserves.

The final action comes at Crawley Road, the venue at which the still unbeaten at home this season Cranfield United Reserves who sit in fifth place in the league table play hosts to the visiting seventh place Dinamo Flitwick.