Caldecote close the gap

Jack Boyd gave them the lead before an Iain Asplin penalty levelled for the Cople based-side. But Tom McGhee restored the visitors lead by the break while in the second period, strike from Leeroy Odd and a brace from Kai Griffiths-Shilton brought up the nap hand.

Last Thursday under AFC Kempston Rovers’ Hillgrounds floodlights, Renhold United won 4-0 against Lidlington United Sports with double strikes from Aran Hazelwood and Eduardo L’Erario, the result leaving the visitors still looking for their first away win of the season.

AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College retained their season’s unbeaten home ways and claimed third spot on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Marston Shelton Rovers thanks to an Martin Ivy double.

And for new fourth placed side and Ickwell & Old Warden it was a 4-0 home success over Sharnbrook thanks to Danny Fox and Lee Threadgold plus an own goal in period.

Shock of the day came at Rectory Road where in-form Oakley Sports M&DH were beaten 5-1 by their hosts Shefford Town & Campton. Adam Larsen and Jake Rennie netted in the opening half before two goals from Andrew Hayday and a strike from Jon Ransom were only replied to in the second period by Shaun Barnett.

Elsewhere Lidlington United Sports returned to winning ways and retained their season’s unbeaten home ways with a 5-1 victory over Wilshamstead as Alex Burrows and Dom Martins both netted twice and Darren Rowlett, the reply from Paul Jones.

Also returning to winning ways were Bedford Hatters, for them it was a 5-0 home win over second from bottom AFC Biggleswade Town. First half goals from Simon Pixley and Dean Lebrecht being added to in the second period by Keith Thomas, Xennon Paul and Pixley with his second of the game to bring up the nap hand.

Division One

Leighton United remain a point clear at the head of the Division One league table after they retained their seasons 100 per cent away record by winning 5-1 at Elstow Abbey. Daryl Smith netting twice alongside goals from Luke Dolan, Michael Brunton and Lee Redmond against a home reply from Travis Joseph.

For second place Shillington, it was win number five on the bounce with a 4-0 home victory over Lea Sports PSG. Christopher Slough, Alex Toye, Ryan Lewis and Jordan Robbens the goalscorers.

Just a point behind them in third place are Pavenham, for them it was a retention of their seasons unbeaten ways and 100 per cent home record with a 2-1 win over Luton Boys.Daniel Doyle and Tim Bowers on the scoresheet against a lone reply via Alex McDade.

Still very much in the championship hunt are fourth place Caldecote Reserves who won 3-2 at Henlow. Matt Basta with a brace plus a goal from Tom Dupey outscoring home replies via George Zitko and Jonathan Rowe.

However, the top scorers of the day were Brickhill Tigers who ran out 10-1 home winners over bottom of the table AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves. Craig Damon netting five times to go alongside an own goal plus strikes from Matthew Ward, James Field, Danny Wing and Joe Price before Town rounded off the scoring with a last minute strike from Joseph Ogunremi.

Elsewhere, Shefford Town & Campton Reserves were held to a 2-2 home draw by second from the bottom of the table Kings AFC. Martin Tomsett and Sam Kelly on the home scoresheet against replies from Ollie Plestead and Adam Haywood.

Division Four

Bedford Panthers are now just three points behind the league leaders Elstow Abbey Reserves after they retained their seasons 100% ways with a 3-0 victory at Sandy Reserves. Aaran Perrett, Giuseppe Lamberti and Gary Philipson netting the vital goals to leave their hosts now without a win from their last six outings.

Beds FA Junior Cup

Of the 10 opportunities on offer for a spot of giant-killing in the second round of the Beds FA Junior Cup, just one was taken by Division Three Great Barford who ran out 3-1 home winners over Division Two side Meltis Albion. Ben Stocks, Pasquale Ventriglia and Josh Pierre St Clair seeing their goals only replied to by Albion’s Ryan Stocker.

However, going very close were Bedford Park Rangers. 3-1 up at one stage thanks to a hat-trick from Shaun Finlay one of which came from the penalty spot, they were to see a last minute goal from Martin Holland give Woburn Athletic a 4-3 away win over them. Earlier Safari Boys goals had come from Danny Birch, Alex Morlock and Daniel McClaren.

Also giving more than a good account of themselves were Riseley Sports who were beaten 3-2 at Goldington. Paul Brown netting for the visitors in the 35th minute before a Ben Flatters header levelled matters 10 minutes into the second period. The home side then with an 80th minute goal from Justin Muircroft and a 88th minute penalty from Jamie Morris shooting 3-1 ahead until James Cooke reduced the arrears with the last kick of the match.

The biggest winners of the day were St Joseph Reserves who won 8-2 at Stevington. Daniel McLeod with a hat-trick supported by braces from Josh Langlais and Sean Sheridan and a single strike from Dave McLeod against two in reply from Stevington’s Gavin White.

For Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves it was a 6-2 win at Caldecote A. Alex Liburn netting three times alongside single strikes from John Hislop, Alex Strange and Aaran Wright with the home replies coming from Tom Rowlett and Ryan Ambrose.

Just a goal behind them were Eastcotts AFC who won 5-1 at Potton Town. Darren Mason with a hat-trick supported by goals from Jimmy Jacob and Brad Temperley against a lone Town reply from Charlie Seward.

Keeping up the away winners theme were Bromham United, for them it was 4-0 win at Wootton Village.

Shane Canzano netted twice alongside single strikes from Darren Payne and Reuben Hukin. Whilst joining them were Sundon Park Rangers and Queens Park Crescents, Rangers with two goals from Sam Kehinde and a goal from Sam Evans winning 3-1 at Kempston Hammers Sports whose reply came from Mick Freeman and The Crescents won 4-2 at Dinamo Flitwick despite home strikes from James Burton and Dom Loadman.

The best home win of the day went to Wilshamstead Reserves with a 4-1 victory over Royal Oak Kempston. Luke Pursey with a brace plus JM ‘John’ Steele and Jay Hall on the scoresheet against an Oak reply from Lorenzo Jordan. Whilst a lone goal from Glen Cooksley gave Westoning a 1-0 home win over Clifton.

Alas despite goals from Ben Greenwood and Dan Reid,it was the end of the road for Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves who were beaten 5-2 at home by Luton District & South Beds League side Four Model and for Dunton Reserves who were beaten 3-1 at home after extra time by North Bucks League side Southcott Village RA Reserves.