WSL Junior Cup Final

FC Woodside defeated The Tree 2-1 with a late extra-time goal to win the Junior Cup in a game which took time to get going before producing, at times, a compelling watch for the 150-strong crowd at Oxhey Jets’ ground on Sunday.

The early pattern to the game was disrupted by an injury to Woodside’s Drew Snailham. He was able to continue though, and it was the same player who had the first meaningful effort on goal for either side after 19 minutes with a low cross shot which just missed going in at the far post.

The Tree slowly edged themselves into the game and had a period of sustained pressure just after the half-an-hour mark, as Woodside’s veteran stand-in goalkeeper Glen Coniam produced three good saves in as many minutes from Steven Collett, Marc Brownsell and Glen O’Malley.

As the first half entered added-on time, Woodside were given a glorious chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Joe McCarthy was tripped in the box, but John Croft could only fire his spot-kick high over the bar.

Woodside didn’t let the penalty miss unnerve them, they started the stronger side at the start of the second half and four minutes after the restart McCarthy struck a powerful effort from the edge of the box against the right-hand post with Tree keeper Kyle Pater beaten.

Most of Woodside’s pressure was coming through McCarthy, who then put a long-range free-kick from wide on the left just past the post.

With 20 minutes played in the second period, Woodside withdrew Croft for Michael Griffin and this switch paid dividends seven minutes later.

It was McCarthy who was at the heart of the goal, as he raced onto a through ball and managed to lift the ball over the advancing Pater, who got a touch on the ball, leaving it spinning towards the goal and Griffin managed to chest it into the unguarded net from close range.

The Tree made a change immediately after conceding, bringing on Rob Mair for Dean Brownsell, and his introduction started to cause the Woodside defence some worrying moments, although they were well marshalled by skipper Steven Stratford who gave a captain’s performance at the heart of the backline.

It looked like Woodside would hold on despite increased and heavy pressure, but they were finally breached when Alex Simmonds struck a free-kick from the right which went all the way along the ground and into the far corner with no other player from either side getting a touch.

That late equaliser seemed to breathe new lift into the Tree and a minute into stoppage time Adam Cadmore had a good chance to win the cup, but he couldn’t get his header under control and it went narrowly wide.

The Tree made more of running in the first period of extra-time, with Mair seeing his shot well saved by Coniam and then O’Malley striking the crossbar from 20 yards out.

It was in this period that Simmonds thought he scored his team’s and his second goal of the game but his effort was ruled offside, despite heavy protests.

The Tree again had plenty of the ball in the final 15 minutes, but the well organised Woodside defence stood firm.

The final looked like being settled by a penalty shoot-out but there was to be final twist when having soaked up the Tree’s pressure, Woodside struck on the counter-attack.

Joe Hansard broke down the right wing before passing inside to Joe Fox, who scored with a neat turn and shot from the edge of the area to secure the trophy.

FC Woodside: Coniam, Maxwell, Hansard (Chiverton 77 (McCarthy 116)), Weinar, Stratford, Bamgboys, Fox, Edwards (Ford 105), Snailham (Gullin 82), Croft (Griffin 65), McCarthy (Hansard 88). Sub not Used: Winter.

The Tree: Pater, D. Brownsell (Mair 72), Collett, C. Brownsell, Seager, Simmonds, C. Horwood (Woods 119), M. Brownsell (Pryor 90), O’Malley, Pryor (Pemberton 80), Cadmore (L. Horwood 120) Sub not Used: Donaldson.

Challenge Cup Quarter-Final

It has been said that a week is a long time in politics; Old Danes proved the same can apply in football as the First Division leaders suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Fourth Division AFC Green Machine, coming just seven days after Danes had produced their own upset to defeat St Josephs in the semi-final of the President’s Cup.

Danes took the lead five minutes before the break thanks to Ross Bennett’s shot following good work from Mike Burke.

Despite missing a couple of good chances to seal a semi-final place, they looked to be holding on for the win, until two goals in the final 20 minutes of the game produced the upset.

First a goalkeeping clearance found Lee Puddephat, who smashed the ball back the way it had come, despite the presence of a Danes defender who let the ball roll under his foot as his attempted to clear. Then with five minutes left, Daniel Perry curled a free-kick over the wall for the winner.

Green Machine have now beaten three higher division opponents to reach the last four, including Premier Division Rickmansworth Town in the previous round. They now face another top-flight side in Rifle Volunteer in the semi-final on April 9.

Ken Simmons Cup Semi-Final

Second Division Oxhey Rangers’ cup run is over after Premier Division Met Police Bushey prevailed by the odd goal in seven.

Dan Pipin, Steve Bunting and Michael Gillman scored for the lower ranked side, but it was a Dale Jenkins hat-trick and one from Rob Gradwell that set up a final against either Fox & Hounds or West Herts.

Ken Simmons Cup Quarter-Final

Fox & Hounds easily beat Division Five side P&P Social 6-0 to make it through to the last four.

Premier Division

Leaders Oakview beat Chorleywood Club 5-1 to move seven points clear at the top of the table.

Adam Lowton with a brace, Ben Alexander, Wayne Gladdy and an own goal completed the win, with Ryan McMahon replying for Chorleywood.

It looks like being a fight between Rickmansworth Town and Old Fullerians for a third-placed finish in the table, as Town beat Rifle Volunteer 3-1 with goals from D. Mallett, H. Brock, A. Cabey. Nick Kerley responded for the home side.

Goals from Craig Totton and Sam Parker fired Old Fullerians to a 2-1 win over St Josephs, who had Lawrence Olorunfemi on target.

Division One

Colne Valley beat Croxley 3-2, despite again fielding only the bare XI players, including secretary Matt Day playing his first full game in almost 15 years.

Chris Monastiriotis gave Croxley an early lead but Dave Rooney soon levelled and then Colne took the lead midway through the first half when Charlie Benning's shot squirmed under the keeper.

Valley extended their advantage in the second period when Rooney slotted home from close range for his second of the game.

Croxley pulled one back with four minutes to go through Thomas Hughes but it was not enough to prevent a Valley win.

Division Two

Langleybury Cricket Club’s 2-0 away win over Rickmansworth Athletic, secured by a Greg Cook brace, means they now have a four-point lead the top of the table, although Fox & Hounds do have four games in hand.

Division Three

Bell Rangers’ hopes of the Third Division title now rest firmly in their own hands after a 2-0 win over Revolution.

Goals in the second half from Louis Soper and a George Kus penalty means Bell now have a five-point lead over second-placed Ripstone, who they play this coming Sunday, and nine points over third-placed Tudor Athletic. They suffered a shock 4-2 defeat against mid-table Meriden.

Meriden took any early through Aarron Crawford, but an effort from Jack Robertson and an own goal put their opponents ahead.

But Meriden struck back to win through Ben Dunton, Dean Ward and a second of the game from Crawford.

Sun Postal Sports will finish the season bottom of the table, but have at least finished on a high after winning their final two games of the campaign including Sunday’s 5-4 victory over Woodlands United.

Louis Robins and Romayna Thomas both scored a brace each and Martin Jamieson was also on target for Sun. Klevis Dervishi, Darren Obrien, Adam Rawlings and Lloyd Townsend got the Woodlands goals.

Division Four

Both games in the division unusually ended in 5-2 away wins.

Bushey Rangers kept up the pressure on Ardent at the top of the table by beating Woodlands Laurels through goals from Lewis Yates, Stephen King, Harrison Bath, Charlie Barnett and David Smith. Matt Chipchase and Dan Okoro netted for the home side.

Hertfordshire Lions’ once promising season is coming to a disappointing end as goals from Greg Springal and Richard Batson couldn’t prevent a fifth win of the season for Inter, for whom Jordan Heggie notched a brace and Daniel Kosmin, Tony Hiron and Ross Klein also scored.

Division Five

Chess United have finally avoided a defeat in the league this season as they held the team directly above them, Batchworth, to a 1-1 draw.

Chess’ Ben Bugeja and Dillon Chamberlin for their opponents got the goals.