On-song Bovingdon into final (From Watford Observer)

Olympian League review

12:38pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport By Mark Bunn

Ken Simmons Memorial Cup semi-final

Bovingdon produced an excellent performance as they defeated Evergreen Olympians 2-0 to reach the final where they will face Oxhey Park at Kings Langley FC, on April 7.

Aside from some early Evergreen pressure, Bovingdon dominated the game and had already missed three good chances to take the lead before they went ahead after 27 minutes when Lewis Rae’s low cross across the face of the six-yard box was deflected into his own net by Jack Garratt.

The second goal arrived ten minutes later when the Evergreen players stopped, thinking the ball had gone out of play which allowed Bovingdon captain Matt McMahon to fire home from 25 yards from a position just inside the touchline.

Evergreen did improve in the second half but never really looking like breaking through the Bovingdon rearguard, even with a change to a 3-4-3 formation in the final 15 minutes.

Indeed, it was Bovingdon who had the best chance of the second half, with substitute Darren Kean hitting the cross bar with the goal at his mercy within a minute of coming on for the final ten minutes.

Premier Division

Kings Langley gained a first league win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Old Danes Athletic.

Tom Carter was the Langley star performer as he struck a hat-trick. His first goal was soon cancelled out by a Tom Gee equaliser, but in the second half he scored twice more to seal a first three points of the season for his side.

It is a case of as you were in the title race after both Woodside and Headstone Athletic enjoyed easy wins, 6-0 and 6-1 against Colne Valley and Reed Rangers respectively.

Anthony Holliman put Woodside ahead after just three minutes from a corner and that lead was doubled on six minutes when Dan Campbell netted.

Joe McCarthy struck Woodside's third after 21 minutes and they went into the break 4-0 up thanks to Steve Dettmer's diving header a minute before half time.

The second half saw Dom David and Campbell complete the scoring.

Dan Page led Headstone's victory charge with a hat-trick, supported by goals from Yan Price, Anthony Page and Shiva Kurup.

Reed’s sole reward was a consolation in the second half from Max Jackman.

The other game in the division was another large scoring affair as Tudor Arms defeated Cassiobury Rangers 7-1.

Luke Pochetty found the net four times for Tudor, with the other goals coming from Jack Robertson, Dan Robertson and Gary Warn.

Jack Henley scored the Rangers goal in the first half.

Division One

Aquis gained a vital 3-2 win over Amici in the battle at the summit of the table.

Julian Burge headed Aquis ahead in the first half before goals from Aaron Spink and Kaveh Fatemian looked to have sealed an easy win. But Amici struck back twice through Josh Noyes and Jo Mitchell.

Aquis' win means they have a three-point lead at the top but Amici have two games in hand so the title race looks certain to go right to the wire.

Headstone Lions defeated Watford Labour Club 5-3.

Lions looked to be coasting to an easy victory as they led 4-0 at the halfway point thanks to goals from Paul Davison, Gain Reese, Sam Clark and Joe Marco Manfredini.

Watford pulled two goals back early in the second half from Mark Bedford and Cliff Rowson. Headstone’s fifth came from Daniel Appiah before Labour scored a third from John Barker.

Division Two

The only game in the division to survive the heavy rain was between Bushey Olympians and Brookside.

Bottom-placed Bushey went ahead in the first half but their opponents then struck four times thanks to goals from Johnny Armitt, Barry Horne, Jordan Cocmazzi and Paul Wise.

Bushey railed in the final ten minutes, finding the net twice to leave Brookside the 4-3 winners and still with a chance in the title race.