Saturday`s Division One Central Round-Up

Bedford Town maintained their three-point lead at the top of the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central table after an emphatic 7-0 hammering of bottom side Wantage Town who, along with Colney Heath, had relegation confirmed on Saturday.

The game at Alfredian Park was a bit of a banana skin for Gary Setchell’s Eagles but they effectively had the game won by half-time, leading 3-0 with goals from Rory McAuley after 27 minutes, Joe Butterworth 5 minutes later and Connor Tomlinson a minute before the break.

Eight minutes after the restart, Lewis Miccio added Bedford’s fourth and 5 minutes later they completed a nap hand with Tomlinson’s second.

Hugh Alban Jones on 72 minutes and Max Bustamante on 80 minutes completed the rout.

Second-placed Berkhamsted were made to scrap a little harder for their win at Capershotts against Waltham Abbey.

A 27th minute Ryan Kinnane effort, in the end, proving enough for the Comrades, whose inferior goal difference effectively gives Bedford another point in the quest for the title.

In the play-off race, AFC Dunstable were the day’s big movers, slipping into third spot after a 2-1 win at Creasey Park against a now fifth-placed Welwyn Garden City.

Ryan Frater opened the scoring on the half-hour mark and BJ Christie sealed the points on 56 minutes.

The game in the day in the division saw Ware move above Welwyn Garden City into fourth after sharing a 0-0 draw at Eynsham Park with sixth-placed North Leigh.

At the other end of the table, Colney Heath return to Step 5 football after just one season.

Their goalless draw at home to Thame United, who missed a second-half penalty, and third-from-bottom Kempston Rovers` 3-1 win at Hillgrounds against fellow strugglers Kidlington condemned them to finish in a relegation spot.

The scrap is now on to avoid that possible third-from-bottom play-off spot, with the Walnut Boys seeing off the Oxfordshire side with goals from Tremayne Charles after 15 minutes, Sam Johnson on the half-hour mark and then a stoppage time Ryan Markham own goal after Jack White had replied for the Greens on the hour-mark.

That win pulled Kempston to within a point of Hertford Town, who went down to a 4-1 defeat at The Eyrie to Biggleswade FC.

Brothers Lawrie and Alex Marsh scored first-half goals to send the hosts into the break two-up.

Ed Gyamfi immediately reduced the deficit after the interval and then Tom Coles made it 3-1 on 49 minutes and 3 minutes later, Lawrie Marsh scored his second.

Elsewhere, Aylesbury United enjoyed a good 4-0 win at the Meadow against FC Romania with Jamie Rudd breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 with a second for Rudd and Sonny French made the points safe for the Ducks in the 82nd minute, and Tyrone Lewthwaite adding number for in stoppage time.

Goals from Sammy Dadson after 16 minutes and then Samson Maagbe on 77 minutes gave Harlow Town a 2-0 success at Sharpenhoe Road against Barton Rovers.

Connor Barratt gave Didcot Town an early 6th minute lead at the Loop Meadow Stadium against St Neots Town.

Kwai Marsh-Brown equalised just before the break and then Felipe McConnell made it 2-1 to the Saints just past the hour-mark.

Barratt’s second 5 minutes from time salvaged a point for the Railwaymen.