Weekend football preview

Thus just five of our clubs face opening round ties which includes the all Bedfordshire County Football League clash at Rectory Road between hosts Shefford Town & Campton and the visiting AFC Oakley Sports M&DH, who having recently netted a 5-1 home league win over their hosts will travel in a confident manner that it be them four weeks later making tracks for Greenfields and a second round encounter with Shillington.

For Renhold United, its a trip on the road to The Hollow to face United Counties League outfit Potton United. Whilst it’s South Midlands League opposition for both Flitwick Town and AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. On their Redborne School 3G surface, Flitwick take on Crawley Green but for AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College its a trip on the road to the Armadillo Stadium to face Arlesey Town Reserves.

With these cup ties taking place the Premier Division supported by Sportsform programme is down to just four games. However, it does give Lidlington United Sports the chance to regain the top spot in the league table should they gain a point or more from their home Hurst Grove clash with arch local rivals Marston Shelton Rovers. Whilst a positive result either way at the Jubilee Playing Fields clash between host Wilstead and the visiting Shillington will see the winners jump up into third spot in the league standings.

Other action comes at Lodge Road, the venue at which bottom of the table hosts Sharnbrook meet second from bottom Pavenham where the mission for both sides is their first win of the season and at Weston Park, Wootton Blue Cross will also be in search of their opening win of the season when called upon by Ickwell & Old Warden.

In Division One, the game of the day comes at Bedford Road Recreation Ground where the visitors to face second place hosts Sandy are the league leaders Goldington. Whilst over at Stockwood Park, third place Sundon Park Rangers play hosts to sixth place Eastcotts AFC. The two sides currently sitting between them in the league table are Elstow Abbey and Woburn Lions who go head to head at the Lions Crawley Road Den.

All of which could well see still 100% for the season seventh place AFC Turvey leap up the standings with the expected full three points from their home Stonefields outing against second from bottom of the table Bromham United.

Over at Harvey Close, bottom of the table Caldecote Reserves face no easy task to gain their first point/points of the season when called upon by Luton Boys Seniors. Whilst at Cople Playing Fields, its a clash between fourth from bottom hosts Bedford Sports Athletic and third from bottom visitors Shefford Town & Campton Reserves.

The final game in this section sees Henlow travel to Ickleford Playing Fields to take on hosts Marabese Ceramics.

Following the excitement of last weekends Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup ties, its a return to league action for the lower division sides this weekend. In Division Two, league leaders Queens Park Crescents still 100% this season make tracks to Gold Street to face second from bottom of the table Riseley Sports for whom it will be a first home game of the season. Whilst perhaps the game of the day with come at Oakley Playing Fields, the venue at which second place hosts AFC Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves take on the visiting fifth place Cranfield United.

Also looking to retain their seasons 100% record will be third place Potton United Reserves, they journey to Roxton Playing Fields for some local derby action against Great Barford. Whilst their near neighbours Potton Town will fully expect to retain their seasons unbeaten record when they hit the road for a Luton Regional Sports Centre outing against bottom of the table Stopsley Park.

Other action comes at Whiston Crescent, where Clifton look to retain their seasons unbeaten home ways against AFC Harlington. A comment that also applies at Solway Way North where hosts Co-op Sports take on third from bottom Renhold United Reserves. This game subject to change following United’s abandoned Beds FA Junior Cup tie last weekend. Please see www.bedfordshirefootballleague.co.uk for an update.Whilst the final game is at King George VI Playing Fields, the venue at which hosts Kings AFC look for their first league win of the season against AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves.

In Division Three, the clash of the day comes at Miller Road where current league leaders Meltis Albion host second place visitors Bedford Panthers. Whilst for third place Stevington, its a Hillgrounds 3G pitch outing against second bottom AFC Bush as they look to retain their seasons 100% league record.

For fourth place Wilstead Reserves, its a trip on the road to The Green to take on bottom of table Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves who will be looking for their first point/points of the season, whilst also looking for their first win of the season will be Kempston Hammers Sports when they host Clifton Reserves at their Cutler Hammer base.

Other action seeing Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves entertain Kempston Athletic at their Playing Field headquarters and at Greenfield Road, Westoning play hosts to Kempston Con Club Sports.

In Division Four, the still unbeaten league leaders FC Houghton make tracks for a Hinksley Recreation Ground outing against hosts Dinamo Flitwick where anything less than the full three points could well see them lose the top spot to Wootton Village who will be expecting to collect the full three points from their home Wootton Recreation Ground outing against Sandy Reserves.

Down at the other end of the table, basement club Bedford Park Rangers face no easy task to gain their first point/points of the season when at their new Blunham Playing Field base the visitors are third place Meltis Albion Reserves.

Just a place above them in the standing are Flitwick Town Reserves, for them its a trip to Digswell Playing Fields to be hosted by Shefford Town & Campton A in search of their first win of the season. A comment that also applies to third from bottom of the table Atletico Europa who commence their home Harrowden Middle School programme with a visit from fellow league newcomers Clapham Sports.

Other action coming over at Harvey Close, the venue at which Caldecote A host local rivals Moggerhanger United and at Crawley Road where the visitors to face Cranfield United Reserves are Mid Beds Tigers.