Two points are needed as Shefford close in on title

However the champions-elect were an early goal down following a strike by Paul Obuch they before they levelled through Chris Clark on 32 minutes. The win was secured with second half strikes from Gary Ansell-Carter and Tom Scurfield.

Caldecote ensured they will finish no lower than second after a 5-2 home win over bottom of the table Woburn, Jack Gabbitas scoring a hat-trick together with strikes from Barry Dellar and Tom Cookman, the only reply from Sam Blackburn who netted a brace.

Caldecote’s victory means Bedford Hatters will finish the season in third place even though they ended their season with a 2-1 win at Renhold United, the result ending their host’s 14 game unbeaten run. Darren Allen and Ashley Deverall were on the scoresheet against a United reply from Alex Woolston.

Also enjoying life on on the road were both Wilshamstead and Oakley Sports. After a run of five games without a win, Wilstead beat Arlesey Town Reserves 3-2 with goals from Colin Marshall, Darren Rowlett and Michael Taylor, the Blues replies from Dan St Ledger and Gabriel Thomas.

Oakley Sports ended a run of eight league games without a win with a 4-2 victory at Dunton. Shaun Barnett (two), Ray Patrickson and Dan Kelly were on the scoresheet against home replies from Dan Whitten and Joe Lewis.

Division One

THE Division One race is now a two club fight between Bedford Sports Athletic and Ickwell & Old Warden. Currently leading on goal difference are Ickwell who made it nine wins on the bounce with a 3-0 victory at Lea Sports PSG, thus ending their hosts’ 12 game unbeaten run as Tim Gill, Lee Threadgold and Jamie Scotcher did the damage.

Bedford SA, who have played one game more, were taking their unbeaten ways to 10 games as they made it six home wins on the bounce, a 2-0 win over Marston Shelton Rovers whose hopes of a top two finish now look remote.

Daniel Bond netted in the opening half before an Ashley Mead penalty on 70 minutes settled the points. It was just as well for Mead as he had missed from the same penalty spot just 20 minutes earlier!

For FC Meppershall there was a 3-1 home win over a Kings AFC side that has now failed to win any of its last nine outings. Joe Price hit two and Matthew Phelan one with the reply from Chris Greene.

Henlow returned to winning ways for the first time in six starts with a 4-3 home win over Luton Boys thanks to Joseph Spencer, Keith Milburn, Russell Ayles and Johnny Rowe against an own goal and two from Jason Smith.

Not so fortunate were Westoning. They are now doomed to finish bottom following a 2-1 defeat at AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves.

Kevin Brown gave the hosts a second minute lead which was doubled by a Lee Moon header five minutes later, Scott Gadsden then reducing the arrears on 20 minutes.

Division Two

ELSTOW Abbey not only retained their season’s unbeaten league record but they moved to within three points of the title after ending Pavenham’s 11 game unbeaten run.

They won 5-1 on home soil with Jason Harrison (two), Percy Chagwiza and Glen Tumulty taking them 4-0 clear at half time before a second from Tumulty arrived on 58 minutes to bring up the nap hand, 12 minutes ahead of a lone home strike from Michael Bates.

Now back in second and above Pavenham are AFC Turvey. They were gifted the three points when bottom of the table Great Barford failed to raise a side to face them at Stonefields.

In a week in which they announced they are to merge and join forces with Oakley Sports next season, M & DH Oakley ended a seven game losing run with a 3-1 home victory over Sundon Park Rangers thanks to Dan Green, Lee Osmond and Thomas Donnelly, the lone Rangers’ reply from Andrew Fox.

Defeat for Rangers saw Bromham United climb above them to fifth spot with a 2-0 home win over Marabese Ceramics after a brace from Jacob Hukin.

The day’s final game in Division Two saw Co-op Sports to a 4-0 win at Stopsley Park with goals from Tom Miller (tw0), Chris Vardy and Tom McMillan.

Division Three

CRANFIELD United Reserves are now within three points of the Division Three title following their 2-1 home victory over Kempston Hammers Sports. Simon Wade and James Armstrong netted the vital goals against a Hammers’ reply from Mark Cox.

Almost certain to finish as runners-up are Eastcotts AFC who enjoyed their tenth win on the bounce, a 6-0 home success over bottom of the table Dunton Reserves. Ciaran Alexander and Sean McFarland both netting twice alongside singles from Adam Jacques and Kaylen Wilson.

But Renhold Village might just dispute runners-up spot following their 4-3 win at Westoning Reserves where Dan Luke bagged a hat-trick and Ben Parratt the other, the replies coming from an own goal and strikes from Michael Draycott and Adam Jellis.

Also enjoying life on the road were Royal Oak Kempston. Following three straight defeats they returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory at Wilshamstead Reserves thanks to Lorenzo Jordan (two) plus Martin Smith. It left their hosts without a win in five games.

Still in the hunt for a top five finish are Riseley Sports who moved to within three points with a game in hand on fifth place Stevington. The Sportsment beat them 2-1 at Gold Street thanks to Paul Brown and Tom Ellison, the lone reply from Martin Whaton.

Division Four

THE Division Four race looks like being a two-way fight between Bedford Park Rangers and Marsh Leys. The Rangers, with two games in hand, held onto top spot on goal-difference following an 8-1 home win over Kempston Athletic.

Jordan Wright netted five, Shaun Finlay twice together with an own goal to give Rangers their seventh consecutive win, the Ath’s reply coming from Troy Bossendorfer.

For the Marshmen it was a retention of their season’s unbeaten away ways with a 7-1 win at Goldington Hammers. Grant Williams was on the scoresheet four times, Alex Clipson twice and Jamie Carson once to take their current unbeaten ways up to 15 games. The home reply came from Michael Stafford.

Still looking good for a top three finish are Thurleigh. They won 2-1 at Sandy Reserves thanks to Steve Pledge and Josh Pierre St Claire with Ian Hammett on target for the hosts.

Elsewhere Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves returned to winning ways for the first time in five outings with a 3-1 home success against a Wootton Village side that has now lost its last eight games. Joe Wanns, Graham Weddall and Matthew Bruney all scored with the reply from Adam Flynn.

Also winning for the first time in five were Stewartby Village thanks to a lone penalty strike from Ryan Collis which took them to a 1-0 home win over Dinamo Flitwick.

Sadly for bottom of the table Dunton ‘A’ they failed to raise a side to host at Horseshoes Close and in doing so gifted the three points to their Caldecote third team counterparts.