Football in your area

Following the sudden death nature of last weekends league cup action it is in the main back to the bread and butter league affair for our clubs/teams this weekend.

In The Premier Division supported by Sportsform section that means a tricky trip on the road to Miller Road for league leaders Caldecote to face Bedford Hatters. Having won their last six away league outings and now on an 11 game unbeaten league run you would expect the visitors to start favourites to collect the spoils. However, The Hatters themselves are on a five game unbeaten league run plus are winners of their last four home league outings to suggest with them sitting just nine points adrift of Caldecote in the league standings in eighth spot as both clubs embark on their 13th league game of the season they will view this encounter as a must win game if they are to join in the championship race over the second half of the season.

For second place Oakley Sports M&DH its home action at their Playing Field headquarters against fifth place AFC Kempston & Bedford College.With the home side on a four game unbeaten league run and the visitors hitting the road winners of their last two league outings and just two points adrift of their hosts in the league table, this is another game that could go either way and have a major impact on the title prospects of both clubs in the coming months ahead.

That same comment also applying to The Armadillo Stadium encounter between third place hosts Arlesey Town Reserves and sixth place visitors Ickwell & Old Warden. Both clubs have suddenly taken a dip in form,Town will start the day four points adrift of the top having won just once in their last four league games. Whilst the visitors who are now without a win in their last three league starts will commence proceedings a further five points shy of the current league leaders having all played the same number of games.

Also very much in title race are fourth place Renhold United, for them sitting just six points off the summit of the table its a trip on the road to Steppingley Road to face Flitwick Town. Having lost just once on their league travels this season and with The Town’s home record showing just one win from six outings you would expect United to collect the spoils to inch ever closer to the top of the table.

Down at the other end of the table bottom of the league Bedford Sports Athletic will be looking to end an eight game losing league run when they host Lidlington United Sports at Cople Playing Fields. For United it will be their seventh consecutive away league game on the bounce and with them being only successful at AFC Biggleswade in the last of those a fortnight ago could this be the day Athletic will at last come good?.

For AFC Biggleswade, its home action at The Carlsberg Stadium against second from bottom of the table Wilshamstead. The visitors hitting the road unbeaten in their last three league outings looking for their first away win of the season.

The final action in the top section comes at Rectory Road, the venue at which seventh place hosts Shefford Town & Campton receive a visit from third from bottom of the table Sharnbrook who will hit the road looking to end a four game losing away tag and bag their first league point/points in four outings.

In Division One the championship race now looks down to a three club race, for current league leaders Pavenham this weekend sees them travel to Chaul End Lane to face fifth place Luton Boys. Starting the day just goal difference ahead of Shillington, one would feel their place at the summit of the table will only be preserved with the collection of all three points. However, things will be far from easy for them as The Boys are currently on a three game winning run and unbeaten on home soil since early October 2012.

For The Shills, its a trip on the road to Hillgrounds to face bottom of the table AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves where it will be a major surprise if they are to provide their hosts with their first league win of the season. Whilst third place Leighton United go into home Stanbridge Road action against in form Shefford Town & Campton Reserves. United looking for their fifth league win on the bounce against a Town side who will`look to extend their unbeaten ways to five league games.

Over at Bedford Road Recreation Ground its local derby action between hosts Sandy and the visiting Henlow. The hosts starting the day just goal difference above their visitors in seventh spot in the league table looking to take their unbeaten run up to six games.

Whilst at Harvey Close, despite their recent dip in form it will be a surprise if hosts Caldecote Reserves don’t collect the full three points from the visiting Kings AFC. Kings arriving at The Close sitting second from bottom in the league standings and looking for just their second away league win of the season. The first of which came back in mid-September at bottom of the league AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves.

Elsewhere over at The Warren, ninth place hosts Elstow Abbey will look to end a two game losing home run when called upon by tenth place Brickhill Tigers.

The spotlight this weekend for the lower division sides falls upon the action in The Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup Quarter-final ties which is now down to an all Bedfordshire County Football League octet. In the four ties, two will see division three sides having home advantage over their division two opposition. At their Playing Field headquarters, where Great Barford have won six of their eight encounters in all competitions this season the visitors are Eastcotts AFC who will arrive fully aware they will have to be at their very best if they are to progress into the last four. Whilst at Jubilee Playing Fields, Wilshamstead Reserves take on a Woburn Athletic side who will arrive proudly boasting a 50% win strike record on the road this season.

The other two ties being all division two affairs. In Mowsbury Park, Queens Park Crescents will host Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves in the knowledge that they beat them 6-3 in league action at the same venue back in mid-October. Plus in Leagrave Park, St Joseph Reserves receive a visit from a Bromham United side who turned them over 5-1 at the same venue in league action just a month ago.

Action thus in division two is just a programme of four games. In Mowsbury Park, league leaders Goldington will play hosts to a yet to win away from home Westoning. Whilst second place Marabese Ceramics now on a seven game unbeaten run journey to Lothair Road to be hosted by eleventh place Stopsley Park.

Over at The Hollow, it will be just home game number three of the season for Potton United Reserves when bottom of the table Meltis Albion come calling and in Stockwood Park, third place Sundon Park Rangers face fourth place Cranfield United Reserves who will hit the road looking for their fourth league win on the bounce.

In Division Three, league leaders Marsh Leys will be hitting the road for The Green to defend their seasons unbeaten away record against hosts Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves who in having lost their last three home games have now dropped down the league table into eleventh spot. Whilst second place Clifton who start the day just six points adrift of The Leys but having played two games less go into home action at Whiston Crescent against seventh place local rivals Dunton. The hosts now unbeaten in their last seven league outings fully expected to collect all three points off their visitors who hit the road looking to end a three game losing league run.

Of the other sides still very much in the promotion race, it’s a trip to Cutler Hammer for Riseley Sports as they look to take their unbeaten league away ways up to six games against a Kempston Hammers side that will be looking for just their second home win of the season in their quest to stay out of the relegation zone.Whilst Potton Town in having won their last three games to get back into the promotion mix go into home Mill Lane action against a Stevington side who come in search of their third win on the bounce. Plus at Greenfield Road, Westoning Reserves will be fully expected to collect all three points when they host bottom of the table Bedford Park Rangers whose only away league win this season came way back in early September at Royal Oak Kempston some 13 games ago.

The final game in this division bringing home action for eighth place Renhold United Reserves at their Playing Field headquarters against second from bottom of the table Royal Oak Kempston.

For Division Four league leaders Bedford Panthers, it’s a trip on the road to defend their seasons 100% away record at Horseshoes Close against a Dunton Reserves side who in having failed to win any of their last four outings now find themselves just ninth in the league table. Whilst if second place Elstow Abbey Reserves are to mount a serious championship challenge to The Panthers then only the full three points will do when they travel to Hillgrounds to take on Kempston Con Club Sports looking to end their current three game losing away run.

Hillgrounds is also the venue at which in form and fourth place Kempston Athletic host Sandy Reserves.With the Athletic now winners of their last four games and unbeaten in their last six outings it will be a major surprise if the visitors collect just their second away win of the season. Also expecting to continue their current winning ways will be third place Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves when at their Playing Field headquarters they seek out their fifth consecutive home win against visitors Shefford Town & Campton A.

Other action comes at Hinksley Road, where Dinamo Flitwick look to take their unbeaten home ways up to five games against a visiting Clifton Reserves side who in having failed to win any of their last three games have dropped off the pace at the top end of the table. Plus at Harvey Close, it’s a repeat of last weekends Watson Shield tie between hosts Caldecote A and Flitwick Town Reserves which went to the visitors by a single goal.