Bedfordshire County League

Division 1

Monday 13th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Bedford Albion 4 Caldecote Reserves 1, attendance 23

26’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

53’ 3-0

70’ 4-0

80’ 4-1

@ Renhold Sports Club

Top End

Renhold

MK41 0LR

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game here when this ground hosted Renhold United, so this was the perfect opportunity to put that right. The ground is entered off Top End, via a driveway adjacent to number 44. The ground runs lengthways in front of you as you enter and is roped on three sides and has a pair of plastic dugouts. There’s an open patch of grass area that’s used for car parking, whilst the changing rooms are in the near left corner, where there’s also a tea bar.

The match was 9th versus 10th (out of 13) in the league table, with the hosts safe for another season, but the visitors were only four points off the bottom and certainly not clear of the drop. It was an excellent game, with both teams fully committed throughout. The visitors missed a great opportunity to take a fifth minute lead, having been awarded a penalty, for a handball, but the kick was easily saved by the home ‘keeper. Bedford broke the deadlock after twenty six minutes, cutting inside a couple of defenders before squirming a shot into the bottom corner from ten yards. Three minutes into the second half the hosts doubled their lead, heading in a cross from the left from 6 yards out. Five minutes later it was game over as they added a third, pulling the ball back across the six yard box for an easy tap in. The fourth goal arrived with twenty minutes left, touching in a corner from the left at the near post, before the visitors got a consolation goal with ten minutes left, angling a low shot into the far corner.

The journey up to Bedfordshire had the usual crawl on the M25 from J13 to J18, adding around twenty five minutes to the original expected arrival time, but the return drive was trouble free and home for 21.30.