PLAYERS woke on Sunday morning to find perfect weather – for ducks.
Torrential rain across the region put paid to almost all of the Leighton Buzzard & District League fixtures penned in for the day, with just five matches being played across the four divisions and cup competitions.
It was a complete washout in Division One, with both games falling foul of the weather as Suffolk Punch’s match against Stewkley and United Services Old Boys versus Stanbridge & Tilsworth both rained off.
Leaders Milton Keynes 87 were never going to lose their place at the top of the pile, but a Stewkley win over bottom of the pile Suffolk Punch would have reduced the gap at the top to a single point. As it stands, they remain three points ahead of Swan Northall.
Swans were supposed to be in Jack Jones Cup first round action on Sunday, taking on Division Two strugglers Elm Park Houghton Centre.
There were also second round games planned to go ahead, with Bird & Bush hosting Go Bowling, and FC Leighton Orient set to play Real KD, however, both were called off.
But one game did go ahead, and it turned out to be a thriller as Houghton United – who started the day top of Division Two – took on Studham.
Unable to separate the sides after 90 minutes, United then turned on the style in extra time to win outright 9-5, booking their place in round three.
United’s cup exploits meant they were unable to defend their lead at the top of the Division Two table, allowing AFC Manor Fields leap to the summit thanks to a 3-2 victory over Hockliffe Lions, who stay 10th.
Elsewhere, the derby between Sporting Dunstable and Dunstable Athletic ended before it got started, while the Sportsmans Arms against Phoenix game was also called off.
Only one game went ahead in Division Three too, as sixth place Go Bowling Reserves and bottom club Dunstable Colts shared the goals and the points, drawing 2-2, though neither side move up the table with the result.
Heath against Victoria Rangers, Leighton Town Sunday against AFC Oldhill, and the eagerly anticipated top of the table clash between Caddington Chequers against Red Lion (Leighton) were all rained off.
Chequers and Lion both remain top of the pile on 13 points, with Heath just a point behind with a game in hand.
In the Division Three Cup, Cheddington’s first round tie with Red Lion (Upper Sundon) was postponed.
A whole two games were able to be played in Division Four, and it saw a welcome 18 goals scored.
Swan Northall Reserves climbed to fourth in the league with a 4-2 win over Dunstable Colts Reserves, but the performance of the day came from AFC Wheatsheaf (Dunstable) as they reached double figures against Houghton Park Rangers, winning 10-2.
While it doesn’t move them up from third in the table, it certainly has done their goal-difference no end of good.
Beechwood, who were due to play FC Dynamo, remain top of the standings, two points clear of MKf United who were also rained off against Houghton United Reserves.
Black Lion (Leighton) against Southcott Village and Phoenix Reserves versus Dunstable St Marys also fell victim to the weather.
The Beds County Cup game between Saints and The 61FC Sunday was postponed but has already been rearranged for next Sunday.
The teams will all be praying for better weather next Sunday, with a busy league schedule penned in.
In Division One, MK87 are set to take on Bird & Bush, Cube Old Boys, who incidentally had a free week this week, play Stanbridge & Tilsworth, Go Bowling play Suffolk Punch and Swan Northall face a difficult test against United Services Old Boys side.
AFC Manor Fields will be keen to keep their lead in Division Two as they take on Sporting Dunstable, though Houghton United will try and keep the pressure up when they face Hockliffe.
Real KD aren’t out of it either and play Dunstable Athletic, while Phoenix face Studham and Elm Park Houghton Centre play Four Kings (Dunstable).
The two Red Lions of Division Three go head-to-head at Pages Park next week, and leaders Caddington face Go Bowling Reserves. AFC Oldhill take on Leighton Town Sunday, Cheddington play Heath and Dunstable Colts face Victoria Rangers.
Division Four leaders Beechwood will be in Jack Jones Cup second round action against Division One side Stewkley, and could lose out on top spot if MKf United beat Dunstable Colts Reserves.
AFC Wheatsheaf (Dunstable) could go level on points with them too if they get passed Phoenix Reserves. Black Lion (Leighton) take on Houghton Park Rangers, Dunstable St Marys play FC Dynamo and Southcott Village face Houghton United Reserves.