Beds County League preview

Peter Francis looks forward to this weekend’s matches

With the league taking a weekend off on Christmas Eve and the New Year’s Eve programme being dedicated to action in the various league cup competitions, this weekend brings about the last league action of 2011.

For current Premier Division supported by Sportsform league leaders Caldecote, that means involvement in the match of the day when they travel to Renhold Playing Fields to be hosted by Renhold United. The home side looking for their fourth league win on the bounce, whilst the visitors hope to maintain their unbeaten ways and complete a 2011-12 season’s double over United who were beaten 1-0 at Harvey Close on the opening day of the campaign.

Over at Hillgrounds hosts AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College have been beaten just the once on home soil this term, so you would expect them to collect the spoils when they entertain a Wilshamstead side whose last win on the road came at Woburn back in late October.Whilst Blunham will perhaps start the favourites to collect their first away win of the season when they journey to The Carlsberg Stadium to be hosted by a Dunton side who are now without a home win in their last five outings.

Elsewhere at Lodge Road, Sharnbrook beaten just twice on home soil this season receive a visit from Oakley Sports whose away record to date suggests they will at least fancy their chances of sharing the spoils.Whilst the final action is a so-called six pointer at the bottom end of the league table between Flitwick Town and Woburn at Steppingley Road. Town looking to end a run of four games without a win against the visiting Safari Boys whose only win on the road in league action this season came at Dunton in their very last outing.

Away from the league action Shefford Town & Campton play hosts to local rivals Arlesey Town Reserves at Rectory Road in the opening round of this season’s Britannia Cup. Town starting the likely firm favourites to progress into round two in their quest to hold on to the famous old trophy they won last season.

In division one it’s a mixture of fixtures for the leading title challengers. Marston Shelton Rovers heading to Jubilee Park to be hosted by a FC Meppershall side that is very capable of causing a surprise on the day.

Whilst Lidlington United Sports, beaten just once on the road this season travel to King George VI Playing Fields where hosts Kings AFC will be desperate to at least share the spoils in their quest for points at the other end of the league table.

However, perhaps the game of the day in this section belongs to the Cople Playing Fields clash between promotion hopefuls Bedford Sports Athletic and Sandy. Athletic beaten by just Lidlington United Sports on home soil this season, whilst Sandy have tasted defeat at just Lidlington United Sports and Marston Shelton Rovers in their seven away outings to date this season, all which suggests a close encounter is on the cards.

For another of the leading title challengers, Ickwell & Old Warden, it’s the defence of their current unbeaten home ways for the season when visited by AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves who have now failed to win any of their last six outings to tumble down to the wrong end of the league standings.

Other action coming at Pirton Recreation Ground, where hosts Lea Sports PSG will be looking for their first home win of the season against the visiting Luton Boys who travel in search of their first away point/points of the season; and at Greenfield Road where hosts Westoning search out just their second home win of the season against a Henlow side that have tasted defeat just once in their last nine outings.

Whilst over at Harvey Close away from the league action, Caldecote Reserves will be hosting Meltis Albion in round one of this season’s Centenary Cup.

The home side having beaten The Albion in the Beds FA Junior Cup at the same venue in late October starting the favourites for a place in round two.

In division two it’s home action for both of the leading two title contenders.At Stonefields, AFC Turvey defend their season’s unbeaten ways when called upon by a Clifton side that have won just twice on the road this season. Whilst at The Warren, Elstow Abbey likewise defend their own season’s unbeaten ways when they entertain a Marabese Ceramics side having won at just bottom of the table Great Barford on the road this season.

Elsewhere, perhaps the two most interesting fixtures of the day in this division take place in Luton.At Stockwood Park, Sundon Park Rangers host a Pavenham side that are now without an away win in their last three outings.

Whilst at Solway Road North, Co-op Sports beaten just once on home soil all season receive a visit from a Queens Park Crescent side that have won just once on the road this season.

Other action will take Shefford Town & Campton Reserves on the road to The Hollow to face Potton United Reserves, the hosts despite having been beaten just twice this season on home soil this season finding it no easy task to collect the full three points from a Town outfit that have lost just once in their last five outings. Whilst at Bromham Playing Fields, Bromham United will look to take their current unbeaten home run up to five games when called upon by Stopsley Park.

The final game of the day in this division being at Oakley Playing Fields.The venue where you would expect hosts M & DH Oakley to collect the full three points from bottom of table visitors Great Barford.

In division three, it looks like winnable games for all of the leading promotion hopefuls. Goldington in home Jubilee Park action against a Westoning Reserves side that has won just twice on the road all season and Stevington locking horns again with Kempston Hammers Sports at their Playing Field headquarters just seven days after defeating them 3-0 at their own Cutler Hammer base.

Elsewhere,Cranfield United Reserves should have enough in the locker to collect the spoils when they journey to Horseshoes Close to face Dunton Reserves.Beginning to knock on the promotion door are Wilshamstead Reserves, for them it’s the search of their fourth home win on the bounce when at Jubilee Playing Fields they play hosts to a Flitwick Town Reserves side that has lost all of their opening seven away games this season.The final game of the day in this division sees Sundon Park Rangers Colts head for Mill Lane to be hosted by Potton Town.

Meanwhile it’s Watson Shield round one action at Gold Street, Riseley Sports hosting Royal Oak Kempston just seven days after meeting them in league action when they emerged the 5-4 winners.

In division four with league leaders Bedford Park Rangers sitting the afternoon out, second place Thurleigh will hope to at least draw level on points with them at the head of the standings when at Keysoe Road they look for home win number four on the bounce when visited by Wootton Village.

Whilst fellow promotion hopefuls Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves head to The Bedford Hockey Centre to take on hosts Bedford Panthers.

Also still in the promotion hunt are Marsh Leys, for them its home Cutler Hammer action against Kempston Athletic where the full three points look on the cards and that comment also applies to Stewartby Village, they being in home Stewartby Way action against the visiting Caldecote A.

Elsewhere at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, Sandy Reserves might well fancy their chances of collecting their first home win of the season when visited by Dinamo Flitwick and at Whiston Crescent, Clifton Reserves should collect just home win number two of the season when Dunton A losers of all their seven away games to date come calling.

The final game of the day taking place in Jubilee Park,being the venue for Goldington Hammers home clash with Shefford Town & Campton A, in a game which on current form could go either way.