Bedfordshire County League
Division 4
Wednesday 15th April 2026
Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19
Catsbrook Wanderers 2 Luton Phoenix 3, attendance 6
18’ 1-0
46’ 1-1
75’ 2-1
81’ 2-2
82’ 2-3
@ Lewsey Park
Pastures Way
Lewsey
LU4 0PF
No Admission or Programme.
Lewsey Park is one of those places that is better to visit during ‘silly season’ than on a regular Saturday during the season. The changing rooms and car park are across a brook from the pitches, a good 150-200 yards away. There’s actually a cafe here, which was still open at kick off time and toilets were available here too. There are three pitches here, one slightly offset and to the right (was hosting L.U. Dons Reserves tonight) as you cross the small footbridge, with the other two to the left, running parallel to each other, with the middle pitch of the three hosting tonight’s game (Pitch 3 according to F.A. Full Time, but doesn’t make sense).
The match was 7th versus 2nd in the league table and was far closer than I’d been expecting. A dreadful pitch didn’t make for pretty football, but it was certainly entertaining. Having kicked off four minutes later than scheduled, the Referee informed both sides he would be playing 2 x 43 minute halves, despite there being no likelihood of a problem with the light. Catsbrook scored the only goal of the first half after eighteen minutes, breaking down the left before crossing to the far post for an easy tap in. An own goal, diverting in a cross when attempting to clear the ball saw Phoenix draw level early in the second half and it looked like they would go on to comfortably win it, such was their dominance, but they struggled with some poor finishing. A free kick from their own half, launched into the box and met with a looping header over the ‘keeper saw Catsbrook go back in front with thirteen minutes left, but they were unable to hold on to their lead. Phoenix smashed one in from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 with five minutes left and a minute later got the winner, with a free kick from the edge of the D that found the bottom corner, despite the ‘keeper getting a hand to it.
The win keeps Phoenix two points adrift of leaders Dunstable Town Cricket Club, having played a game more than the leaders, but crucially, as far as promotion goes, they opened up a nine point lead over Cranfield United Development, although they’ve played two games more than their chasers.
A very tedious journey on the M25 from the M4 junction onwards, followed by a slow moving M1 meant the 68 mile journey north took almost two hours. No such problems coming back and home for 21.05.
