WSFL Challenge Cup Round One

An all-action start to the season saw Oxhey Lions defeat Wellington Arms 4-2 in the opening round of the Challenge Cup.

Last season's top scorer Liam Hanley struck twice for Lions, with Joe Murphy and Daniel Lane also on target. Gary Lemon and Mark Coffey replied for Arms.

Premier Division

The top-flight began with a bang as 24 goals were scored in four matches, with promoted Evergreen thumping AFC Spartians 6-1 to make a dream start to their Premier Division campaign.

Joe Kelly hit one of the two hat-tricks in the Premier on Sunday and together with two from Sam Phillips and one from Kieron Zeller, Evergreen proved too strong for last season's strugglers Spartians for whom Hugo Figueiredo netted a consolation.

Another promoted side, Rifle Volunteer, had a bright start with a 5-2 away win against Gadeside Rangers thanks to a brace apiece from Alec Gediking and one each from Mark Lomas, Andy Lomas and Myles Hall. Rackeim Blaize and Daniel Byron replied for Rangers.

Last season's surprise team, Oxhey Estates, begin their campaign on the right footing with a 4-2 away victory against Hammer.

Luke Lloyd produced the other hat-trick in the division and Charlie Griggs was also on target. The Dunton family supplied Hammer's goals, with one each from Ben and Alan.

St Josephs also hit the ground running with a comfortable 4-0 victory against West Herts. Jack Garrett struck twice and Bradley Wadkins and Sean Sonner completed the scoring.

Division One

Promoted Division Two champions Green Dragon had a shock when they were beaten 2-0 home by newcomers Reed Rangers.

Dragon were only beaten once in the league last season, but they were undone by goals from Dom David and Nathan Gullen.

The other league newcomers, Tudor Arms, also had a good start as they defeated Hammer Reserves 4-2.

The victorious side's scorers were Luke Pochetty, Ben Collins, Lee Taylor and an own goal while Drew Snailham and Daniel Burke replied for Hammer.

Cassiobury Rangers beat Old Fullerians 3-1, with Joe Mortimer scoring twice and one from Frank Henley against a Sam Berry goal for the Old Boys.

Chorleywood Club have made a better start to the new camapign after beating last season's Division Three champions Rickmansworth Rovers 2-0. Charlie Munro and Harry Webb got the goals.

Croxley FC played their part in an eight-goal thriller against Nascot Arms.

Joe Manfedini had to be the man-of-the-match after scoring all four for Nascot, but his solo scoring show was cancelled out by two-goal Steve Eldridge and one apiece from Aaron Farrell and John Eames.

Division Two

Amici enjoyed a strong start to their Division Two baptism, winning 4-0 at Rickmansworth Athletic through a Chris Coleman brace and one each from Dave Morish and Craig Gorrie.

West Herts Reserves were also victorious on their third tier debut, getting the better of a seven-goal exchange against Rifle Volunteer Reserves 4-3.

The scorers for West Herts were Chris Blunden (2), Jon Gandy and Ashley Bridewell, with Barry Tarrant, Harry Blagdon and Tom Lockie netting for their opponents.

There were also plenty of goals as Langleybury Cricket Club and RD FC drew 3-3.

A Matt Honey double and an own goal regsitered for the cricketers, but Phillip BeauWalker, Daniel Parks and Flavio DeMagio ensured honours ended even.

Division Three

This division produced 35 goals across five matches, although 16 of them came in one game as newcomers Oxhey Rangers proved far too strong for Racing Santadome, winning 14-2.

Rangers had nine different players on the scorecard, with two hat-tricks from Dean Purdham and Jordan Aston-Woods, a pair from Ryan Walsh and one each for Michael Martindale, Liam Coles, Darren Hessey, Jamie Phillips, Connor Murphy and Richard McCrossan. Chris Panyai and Adam Ricotelli scored consolations to ease Racing's pain.

North Watford won 7-0 away at Railway Arms as Jawad Ahmed struck a treble and Liam Fowler, Daniel Moss, Shoaib Ali and Ryan Fisken also scored.

AFC Oddfellows defeated newcomers Woodlands United away 5-1, with Matt Coultham scoring twice and one each from Dale Freeman, Jack Smith and Connor Flanagan. Clinton Walton scored for Woodlands.

West Watford had a comfortable 3-0 home win against Carpenders Park Rangers through a Bilal Akram brace and one for Aamer Khan.

Goals from Michael Napolitano and Garvan Fisher enabled Dome Bar Area to edge out Sun Postal United 2-1 as Mitchell Carter replied.

Division Four

With five new clubs joining the league's bottom rung this season, it is likely to take some time for the division to settle down.

Two new teams were playing each other in their first match and it was Evergreen Reserves who triumphed with a 5-1 win at Bell Rangers.

A hat-trick for Alex Joffriel showed that Evergreen were on the right wave length and further goals from Daniel Janes and Phillips Walldock confirmed it. Bradley Wingrove was the consolation scorer for Bell.

Another new club, Central Watford, drew 3-3 with Hertsmere (Sunday), whose goals were netted by Takkis Gio (2) and Scott Cook.

In the other two matches both new sides were defeated. Garston United lost 3-0 at Sun Postal Sports to a Luke Peerless hat-trick and Green Dragon Reserves won 3-1 against The Swan.

Ryan Carter, Lewis Walker and Martyn Ball scored for Dragon, with Daniel Brennan netting for their opponents.