PRESS OFFICER

Clive Milton

Match Reports  played on Sunday 7th March 2010

 

 

BEDFORD ALLSTERS WIN THROUGH TO THE COUNTY CUP FINAL.

 

Bedford Allsters will be representing the League in the Beds. FA Sunday Centenary Cup on Sunday 11th April, when they meet Saints F.C. from Luton, the team that dumped Gardeners Arms Biggleswade out in their semi-final last week after penalties.  This week, Allsters defeated Luton Wanderers two / nil in their semi-final at Mowsbury Park.

 

Meanwhile, New Inn Biggleswade were crashing out of the Beds. FA Sunday Lower Junior Cup losing three / nil in the semi-final at home to Co-op Sports from Luton.

 

Also this week, Meltis Mexicans played Kempston Constitutional Club in the semi-final of the Brian Craddock Jubilee Cup and after a tight, keenly fought game, the Mexicans ran out winners after a penalty shoot-out.  Meltis were the favourites to win the semi-final going into the game, being from Division Two, but Third Division Kempston were not phased by this and began the game brightly.  After ten minutes of cut and thrust from both sides, Meltis took the lead with a gem of a free kick into the top corner by Lyndon Ingerson.  Seven minutes later, Kempston equalised with a Stoke City ‘Delap’ special.  A Howlett ‘Howitzer’ long throw-in arrowed into the Mexican’s box and James Petty rose to nod in the equaliser.  The score remained tied at half-time.  Meltis played the more controlled football at the start of the second half and went ahead when a cross into the Kempston box was headed goalwards.  A deflection off a defender’s shoulder diverted the ball into the net, and shortly afterwards Jamie McLennon rifled in a trade-mark shot from a loose ball on the edge of the box to make it three / one to Meltis.  It looked all over for Kempston with only ten minutes left, but they grafted away and thoroughly deserved what happened next.  Attacking the Meltis goal, the ball was crossed and Mark Umney leapt like a salmon to back-head the ball into the net with the keeper floundering.  Only minutes later the Club were level at three / three when Sean Winconek found space to seize onto the ball lobbing it over the keeper and into the goal, leaving the Meltis side furious with themselves for throwing away a two goal lead.  Extra time followed but excellent endeavour by both teams did not produce a winner.  Penalties decided the result and Meltis won the shoot-out four / one with goals from Gill, Pilgrim, Hazelwood and Simons.  A tame ending after a terrific game.

 

Premier Division leaders, Sandy Sunday, march on towards the title, this week beating second placed Atletico Europa three / nil away from home.  Lawson Park Rangers are third, continuing their impressive run of not being beaten in the league since October, after a five / two away win against Queensmen.  This abruptly ended Queens’ good run of late although Robi ‘Do you row?’ Goodman scored an early goal.  Jon ‘Max Branning’ Williets also scored for Queens but it was not enough in the end.  Charlie Betts and Mark Reed scored two each for Rangers with Dean Bawden getting the other one.  Esquires got their second win of the season away at Caldecote Young Boys, but it was not enough to lift Esquires from bottom place.  Bird in Hand were the other victors in the league when they beat Partizan four / three at Mowsbury Park. 

 

First Division leaders Oakley remain unbeaten and are running away towards the divisional title.  Fourth placed AFC Greyfriars hosted Oakley but were on the wrong end of a six / two scoreline.  Newtown Rangers appear to be going the other way and need a few good results to prevent them tumbling into the Second Division.  21st Century are easing themselves clear of trouble after beating Rangers four / three.  Haynes picked up two points away at Stewartby, and appear to be the main distant challengers to Oakley especially as third placed Old Hastingsburians could only draw away to Bell Sandy.

 

In the Second Division Eagle Heating took a real battering at Constant & Co. Athletic’s ground.  Severely hampered by a long injury list, Eagle started well enough with a patched up team reaching half time with the score at two / one to Constant.  Paul Carey had scored Eagle’s goal. A serious injury to defender Wayne Minney just added to Eagle’s problems as they had to re-shuffle an already patched up side and despite Carey scoring a second goal the pressure became too much and the Eagle defence folded in chaos letting in another eleven goals.  Sharks did themselves a bit of good when they got a precious point off London Road Old Boys.  Fellow strugglers Bird in Hand Reserves did not fare as well away to Sharnbrook, who beat them three / nil.    

 

Third Division leaders Sears Morgan really went to town on Partizan Reserves, knocking in a season’s record seventeen goals with no reply from the home team.  Black Tom Rangers managed only a modest seven goals at home to bottom club BMC, who remain pointless.  In the only other game in the division Wheatsheaf Flitwick had a good away win at Marston Reds winning the match three / one.

 

Fourth Division title hopefuls, Renhold, held off a decent challenge from Caldecote Young Boys Reserves to take both points after a three / two final score.  Hubbard scored twice for Renhold with Dale Matthews producing a spectacular overhead kick for number three.  James Dawe was Renhold’s man of the match on his debut for the club.  Division leaders Mowsbury Athletic shared the points with Hobgoblin Old Boys at Mowsbury Park.  In a competitive match, Mowsbury opened the scoring after thirty-five minutes with a Jordan Wright header from a corner.  The Goblins scrambled an equaliser through Michael Kirby on the stroke of half-time.  Matt Barnes scored Athletic’s second after fifty minutes and after a spell of pressure from the Old Boys, Pete McCormack made it two / two, the final result which was acceptable to both teams.  Second placed Harpur Sunday beat North End Astros two / nil to go level on points at the top with Mowsbury.  Constant & Co. Reserves are keeping up the pressure on the top clubs after beating Flitwick Eagles six / four away from home.  Bellini’s need to get some points from somewhere as they went down one / three at home to Wells Stars.  Bellini’s are bottom but have games in hand and could reach safety if they applied themselves.

 

The Fifth Division title race is heading for an exciting conclusion with four clubs in the frame capable of winning it.  Leaders Grafton Celtics beat bottom club Bromham seven / one.  Gardeners Arms have played one game less and are one point behind Celtics after winning three / nil away to Bedford Albion.  Clapham beat Bedford Rovers six / two and are now third three points off the lead but with games in hand.  Bedford Allsters are currently starring in the Cups and are in fourth place, six matches behind the leaders, with six points to make up. 

 

Next Sunday the two semi-finals of the M & DH Insurance Cup will be played.  Bedford Allsters take on Hobgoblin Old Boys at Mowsbury Park,

whilst

Constant & Co. Reserves play Mowsbury Athletic at Wrest Park, Silsoe.

 

 

Clive Milton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any queries about County Cup games should be directed to

Nick Snelson at the Beds. F.A. – 01582-567712. 

Clubs should remember that referees’ fees in County Cups are calculated

under the ‘old’ system – basic fee plus travelling expenses of 33p per mile and If you are the home team should receive a sum of £15 from the away side to help with the costs

= as per Beds. F.A. handbook.

 

      

 

 

 DON'T FORGET , GET YOUR CLUB AND PLAYERS A MENTION IN THE PRESS

Wearing one of my other hats, that of League Press Officer, every week I will be submitting a report to the Times & Citizen, and its associated newspapers, giving a report on League and Cup games played by the Bedford and District Sunday League clubs.

I am reliant on club members sending in to me information on their games.  It matters not if your club has lost the game, let me know goal-scorers’ names and nicknames (however daft), any interesting incidents, man of the match etc., and I will try to make it an interesting read.

I have no control over what actually gets printed in the newspapers, but my complete, unexpurgated version will be duplicated on the League website.

Players like to see their names in print and I believe that interest in who does what in the games is universally interesting.

so please give me a ring on 01234-273893,

or e-mail crmilton2@btinternet.com

by the Monday evening following the Sunday game.