Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Round One

There was no shortage of entertainment in the two all-Watford Sunday League ties between Tudor Athletic and Bushey Rangers and Ardent against Cassiobury Rangers delivered a total of 19 goals.

First Division Tudor faced Second Division Bushey, who had reached the semi-final of the Herts Junior Cup last season, and they produced a 10-goal thriller after extra-time.

Rangers took the lead with a penalty after 10 minutes from Chad Flaherty, but their opponents soon equalised when a Kyle Mann cross was tapped home by Gary Coyle.

Bushey struck the bar twice and Tudor missed several good chances, but it took until 10 minutes from time for the next goal to arrive when James Fisher put Athletic ahead only for Bushey to equalise straight from the restart through Flaherty’s second.

But the drama had only just begun as within a minute Jack Robertson had put Tudor back in front, however Bushey looked like they were going through after two goals in three minutes from George Davies and an own goal.

Incredibly, there was still time for another twist as Chris McIntyre levelled for Tudor with a header to take the game to extra-time.

It was Athletic who proved to be the stronger side in the additional 30 minutes and sealed the win thanks to two goals in a minute in the first period through Fisher’s second of the contest and a Grant Avis strike.

Second Division Ardent edged past First Division Cassiobury with a 5-4 win.

Ardent took the lead through a deflected Stu Raine strike, but Rangers responded when Joe Ainsworth converted at the back post after a throw had been flicked on by Joe Mortimer.

The pattern of the scoring continued with Raine getting his second from inside the six-yard box from a corner, with Mortimer levelling before half-time from a penalty.

It was Cassiobury’s turn to take the initiative before the break when he curled in a shot, only for the tie to continue to ebb and flow as Dwayne Duncan levelled from a corner.

Rangers regained the upper hand when Matt Chapman volleyed in their fourth, but once again they failed to hold on to the lead as Chay Lewis headed in from a corner and Ardent then secured their place in the next round when Joe Donaghey netted their fifth.

Sun Regent Sports went down to a 4-2 home defeat to Clarkwood - Kenny Aliki and Ian Buffonge with the goals – while North Watford suffered a 10-0 away loss at Jam United.

AFC Green Machine went down 12-2 to Leverstock Green Athletic and subsequently resigned from the league.

Invitation Cup 2017/18 Semi-Final

In the first of the semi-finals held over from last season, Second Division Ripstone reached the final by winning 7-6 on penalties after a late comeback from 2-0 down against First Division Croxley.

Croxley had the better of the first half, taking the lead after 15 minutes when Michael Howells fired home and they were to miss several other chances before the break.

Ripstone got more into the game in the second half, but a well-worked Croxley move allowed Carl Pettit to smash home from close range with 20 minutes left.

This led to a change in formation for Ripstone – and a dramatic fight back.

With just five minutes left Rob Benson fired home from the edge of the area, and just two minutes later Joe Hardie headed in from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

The tie went straight to penalties, with Croxley missing their first kick and Ripstone their fourth to send it to sudden death.

The tie was settled when Croxley goalkeeper Paul Heggie miskicked, leaving Ripstone to score and reach the final.

Eric Hand Challenge Cup Round One

The outstanding first round tie saw First Division Bushey Sports Club beat Second Division The Tree 4-2 through a Dale Jenkins hat-trick and one from Rob Gradwell. Glenn O’Malley netted both Tree goals.

Junior Cup Round One

Fourth Division Skyline only had 10 men but that still didn’t stop them from causing an upset as they knocked out Third Division Batchworth 4-2 thanks to a Sam Marskell brace and one each for Faraaz Iqbal and Asif Khan. Kai Wiggins and Michael Bright replied with the Batchworth goals.

The all-Third Division tie saw NW beat Chess United 3-2 with goals from Hassan Imtiaz, Akeel Ahmed and Aamir Ishaq. George Adams and Cameron Murray netted for Chess.

Premier Division

A change in formation at half-time did the trick for Rifle Volunteer as they came from 1-0 down at the break to beat Old Danes Athletic 6-1.

Chris White had put Danes in front, but the turnaround began when a Mark Sellar cross was blown in by a gust of wind.

Rifle then took control with goals in quick succession; Sean Donnelly scoring with a header, Elliot Myrant-Wilson slotting home from a corner and then Donnelly netted his second.

Ronnie Blagden headed in a Lewis Koch free-kick with 10 minutes to go before an own goal completed the scoring.

A Ryan Woosley-inspired Old Fullerians were the other big winners as they beat St Josephs 5-0.

Fullerians took the lead early in the first half when Matt Rose capitalised on confusion between the Joes keeper and a defender following a back pass.

Woosley doubled the lead with a dipping 20-yard volley and then headed in a Craig Totton cross to quickly double his tally.

His hat-trick was completed with a second-half penalty after Totton had been brought down, and Woosley’s fine individual day was completed when he latched on to a Cristian Caplea through ball to fire in his fourth.

Oakview made it two wins out of two, but they were given a big fright by Evergreen, who matched the champions until they finally broke the deadlock after 65 minutes through Owen Deamer’s well-taken effort.

Lewis Putman then scored two fine solo goals in five minutes to seal the win, although Evergreen deservedly pulled one back from Ben Adams five minutes from the end of the 3-1 defeat.

West Herts and Chorleywood Club drew 1-1.

Clement Asante gave Chorleywood the lead in the first half before Jeremy Audic equalised on the hour with a long-range free-kick.

Division One

It’s three wins out of three for FC Unicorn after they beat Langleybury CC 4-1.

Jamie Calvin opened the scoring with a penalty after being fouled in the box, but their opponents equalised against the run of play five minutes before half-time when Robbie Edgar converted the rebound from his side’s first shot of the game.

Unicorn turned on the style after the break though, with Callum O’Connor making it 2-1 after good work by George Kus and Calvin.

A third goal quickly followed when Calvin volleyed home after O’Connor had retrieved an over-hit corner before crossing.

Those two players then combined for Luke Peerless to net the fourth just before the hour with a scissor kick into the bottom corner.

AFC Bedmond beat Colne Valley 4-0 through goals from Mark McLaughlin, Umberto Urgo, Gavin Rajenderen and an own goal.

Valley had started with nine men, before a 10th arrived and they played out the remainder of the contest a player short.

Division Two

Everett Rovers swept Northwood aside 4-0 thanks to four second-half goals.

The deadlock was broken five minutes after the restart when Nathan Kelly converted the rebound after a Jake Knight free-kick had only been parried.

Knight added a quick-fire second following a defensive mix-up and it was 3-0 when Luke Preedy fed Meshach Williams who crossed for Tim Owen to head home.

Williams then completed the scoring with a tap-in from a Knight shot.

Division Three

Tom Bourke scored from a corner in the second half as AFC Leavesden beat Oxhey Rangers 1-0, although they had makeshift goalkeeper Matty Powell to thank for making a string of saves to keep out the home side.

Oxhey Athletic defeated Inter 4-0 through two-goal Liam Coles and one apiece from Jordan Aston-Woods and Charlie Cole.

Woodlands United also scored four as they beat ACS Milan 4-1.

Joe Ray netted a brace and there was a goal each for Darren Obrien and Klevis Dervishi, with Scott Monaghan replying.

Division Four

White Horse have a first league win after defeating fellow new boys Hertfordshire Harriers 6-1.

Nelson Gomez struck twice and there were singles form Humza Khan, Charlie Vos, Karim Gregory and Krishan Patel. Dan Mason got the home side’s goal.

SOCA are the early leaders after a 4-2 win over Hews.

Goals from Chris Dunn and James Anderson were not enough for the home side as they were defeated by Connor Chapman’s brace and one apiece from Michael Coffee and James Hardwick.

The Victoria beat Sun Postal Sports 5-1 with Charlie Wharton, Dan Bourne, Aiden Bigley, James Farrell and Matt Mason all on target. Hamid Ali got the Sun reply.