Premier Division supported by Sportsform action this weekend on paper looks to have thrown together a set of winnable games for all of the leading championship challengers.The most difficult perhaps falling to now second place Arlesey Town Reserves who hit the road to take on a Bedford Hatters side at Miller Road who will be looking for their third home win on the bounce. Also hitting the road will be third place Ickwell & Old Warden, they venture to Steppingley Road in search of their third away win on the bounce against a Flitwick Town side that has won just once on home soil all season. Plus Renhold United should feel confident about collecting all three points when they make tracks to The Carlsberg Stadium to face AFC Biggleswade whose opening five home league games of the season have all ended in defeat. But wait did not The Waders win at Shefford Town & Campton last week, perhaps it will not be that easy.
Elsewhere its home advantage for both Caldecote and Oakley Sports M&DH. At Harvey Close, the new league leaders Caldecote will defend their season’s unbeaten home ways when called upon by a Lidlington United Sports side that has failed to win any of their six away league games to date. While at their Playing Field Headquarters, Oakley Sports M&DH look for home win number three on the bounce against a Bedford Sports Athletic side who despite six attempts are still yet to win on the road this season.
The final top-flight fixture of the day coming at Lodge Road, the venue at which hosts Sharnbrook search out their third home win on the bounce against the visiting Wilshamstead whose three away league games to date this season have all ended in defeat.
In Division One, the game of the day billing belongs to the Pavenham v Shillington clash at Pavenham Playing Fields. The hosts going into the fixture now the new league leaders and still unbeaten this season, whilst second place Shillington travel looking to preserve their seasons 100 per cent away record and take their winning ways up to eight games.
Over at Bedford Road Recreation Ground, it’s local derby action between hosts Sandy and the visiting Caldecote Reserves who will perhaps start the day slight favourites to collect the spoils. Whilst in Mowsbury Park, hosts Brickhill Tigers go in search of home win number four on the bounce against a Lea Sports PSG side who have won just two of their seven trips away from their Pirton headquarters thus far this season.
For Elstow Abbey, it’s home action at The Warren against second from bottom of the table Kings AFC where the full three points will be expected to be collected. Whilst at Groveside, despite hosts Henlow only having won two of their five home league outings to date they will fancy their chances of making that three when called upon by local rivals Shefford Town & Campton Reserves whose six away trips to date this season have seen them beaten on all but one occasion.
With Leighton United’s Bedfordshire FA Intermediate Cup game at AFC Dunstable Reserves postponed last weekend this game is now expected to take precedent over their scheduled home league outing against AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves. Please see www.bedfordshirefootballleague.co.uk for confirmation and any possible rearranged fixture for The Town.
The main spotlight for the majority of division two sides this weekend falls upon action in round three of this season’s Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup. Of the eight ties, four will be all Bedfordshire County Football League affairs. In Mowsbury Park, Queens Park Crecents despite earlier in the season holding the high flying Goldington to a 2-2 draw will start very much the second favourites to make it into the hat for the Quarter-final draw. While I’m sure Cranfield United Reserves will take great heart from their recent 6-3 home league win over St Joseph Reserves when they travel for a re-match with them in Leagrave Park.
Over in Stockwood Park, Sundon Park Rangers have already beaten Bromham United in league action this season and will fancy their chances of a repeat. While at Greenfield Road despite their season’s unbeaten home record, Westoning will be well aware that their visitors Oakley Sports M&DH Reserves beat them on their own patch in league action back in early September.
Of the four sides facing opposition from other leagues just two will have home advantage. At Weston Park, Eastcotts AFC will be playing hosts to Luton District & South Beds League side Luton Leagrave and at Crawley Road, Woburn Athletic take on North Bucks League outfit Southcott Village RA Reserves.
The two sides hitting the road are division three Great Barford who head for a Stockwood Park meeting with Luton District & South Beds League Four Model and Wilshamstead Reserves who make tracks to face Jedenstka from the same league in Lewsey Park.
With all this cup activity taking place the division two league programme is restricted to just a programme of two games. At their Ickleford Playing Field headquarters, Marabese Ceramics will start the firm favourites to collect the spoils when called upon by Meltis Albion. Whilst at Lothair Road, Stopsley Park will be looking to end a losing home run of three games when visited by Potton United Reserves. However, having lost at The Hollow against The Royals just five weeks ago the task will not be an easy one.
Action in Division Three sees current league leaders Marsh Leys in home Cutler Hammer action against Westoning Reserves. The Leys however have failed to win their last two home starts but will be favourites to readdress the balance against their visitors who have failed to win any of their last three away outings.
For the next three sides in the league standings it’s trips on the road. Clifton now unbeaten in their last six outings making their way to Mill Lane to face Potton Town. Whilst Dunton will be fully expecting to chalk up away win number three on the bounce when they journey to Mowsbury Park to be hosted by second from bottom of the table Bedford Park Rangers whose opening five home league games of the season have all ended in defeat. The third side being Riseley Sports who head now unbeaten in their last eight starts for The Green to take on an Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves side that has been beaten just once on home soil all season.
Other action comes in Hillgrounds, the venue at which bottom of the table Royal Oak Kempston look for their first win of the season when visited by a Stevington side whose only away win of the season came as long ago as the opening day of the season at Bedford Park Rangers. Plus at Renhold Playing Fields, Renhold United Reserves receive a visit from a Kempston Hammers Sports side now unbeaten in their last three away outings.
In Division Four, it will be a major surprise if league leaders Bedford Panthers fail to pick up the full three points when at The Hockey Centre they play hosts to bottom of the table Sandy Reserves whose four away outings to date this season have all ended in defeat. While at Whiston Crescent, Clifton Reserves will also start firm favourites to collect the spoils when visited by a Shefford Town & Campton A side whose away record to date reads, played five, won one, lost four.
Over at Horseshoes Close, Dunton Reserves will perhaps also fancy their chances of a three point haul when paid a visit by a Flitwick Town Reserves side that has lost its last three away outings and at Hinksley Road, Dinamo Flitwick with just one home win from their opening five outings take on a Caldecote A side that has won its last two away outings.
Also looking for just their second home win of the season will be Wootton Village when they entertain a yet-to-win-on-the-road-this-season Kempston Athletic at their Playing Field Headquarters. While at their own Playing Field Headquarters, Marston Shelton Rovers will be seeking home win number three on the bounce when called upon by a Kempston Con Club Sports side that has lost its last two away games.