Junior Cup Semi-Finals

Garston Athletic may be struggling second from bottom in Division Four but they are having a remarkable season in cup football.

They had already reached the last 16 of the Herts Sunday Junior Cup, and have a quarter-final of the Ken Simmons Cup to look forward to as well; ironically against the same side they beat 2-0 on Sunday, AFC Batchworth, to reach the final of the Junior Cup.

AFC Batchworth went into the game the clear favourites, sitting in second place in the league table, but it was their opponents who booked a place in the final at Oxhey Jets with two goals in the opening 32 minutes.

Garston opened the scoring after 15 minutes when a Nelson Santos ball over the top of the defence allowed Laurence Brown to square for new signing Tom Milton to tap home from close range.

The second goal followed 17 minutes later when Bradley Henwood’s free-kick was headed home by Antonio Beata.

Despite a few chances for AFC Batchworth in the second half, they never looked like breaking though a solid Garston defence.

Everett Rovers are another team enjoying cup success and they easily beat Railway Arms 8-0 in the other semi-final.

First-half goals by Barry Mitchell, Mark Hansard, a Meshach Williams double and an own goal meant the tie was won by the break.

Further strikes from Tom Owen, Reece Cameron and a second by Mitchell completed the goal fest.

Premier Division

Chorleywood Club made it two wins on the spin after beating Fox & Hounds 2-0, putting a massive dent in their opponents’ hopes of catching leaders Oakview in the process.

Two goals in the first half from Owen Wartnaby after 20 minutes and the second from Michael East seven minutes before the break sealed the win, leaving Fox seven points behind the leaders after the same number of games played.

Old Fullerians are now up to third place after a 2-0 victory over West Herts left them at the foot of the table.

The Stags failed to take their chances in the first half and were made to pay after the break as a Phil Seidler cross from the left edge of the box clipped the near post on its way in via the head of Charlie Munroe to give the home side the lead.

After more missed chances from West Herts, the advantage was doubled by Charlie Hailey, heading in from close range following a Munroe header back across goal at the far post following a corner.

Division One

The promotion battle in Division One is becoming increasingly fascinating, as following Colne Valley’s 3-2 win over RD FC, the top four clubs are now separated by just four points.

Valley had to get the three points the hard way, coming back from 2-0 down to move into fourth spot in the table.

Colne struggled to get going and their opponents raced into a two-goal lead, with Elliot Myrants-Wilson scoring twice in the opening 32 minutes.

Following this double setback Valley finally started to get into the game, Conor Carney scoring the first goal six minutes before half-time after RD failed to clear a corner. And with a minute left in the opening period, Chris Blunden rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home from an acute angle to equalise.

The second period saw the game flow from end to end with both sides missing chances. But with eight minutes left Luke Habbijam struck for Valley at the far post after a neat passing move across the face of the defence.

RD found themselves unlucky not to equalise deep into injury time when they twice had efforts kicked off the line in a goalmouth scramble.

FC Unicorn and Cassiobury Rangers fought out a 2-2 draw.

Jamie Calvin gave Unicorn the lead when he chipped the goalkeeper from 20 yards after a good through ball from Daniel Conroy, but within five minutes Cassiobury levelled with a goal from Charlie Judge.

Sam Allen put Unicorn back ahead after a mazy run from Callum O'Connor found Conroy, who then squared for Allen to finish. But Rangers secured a point thanks to a Mark Riddick goal when he finished from close range.

Division Two

Tudor Athletic bounced back from their Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup defeat to put six past Rickmansworth Athletic and make it an eighth league win out of eight.

Athletic had to wait until the 20-minute mark to take the lead through top scorer Sam Clarke. The scorer then doubled the lead in style straight from the restart, curling the ball in from distance into the top corner.

Tudor made it 3-0 just before the break when a deflected shot fell to Grant Avis to toe poke home from close range.

Clarke completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after the interval, with Gary Warn adding two late goals to complete the scoring.

AFC Green Machine’s hopes of breaking into the top two suffered another setback as they suffered a second straight draw, this time 4-4 with Ripstone.

Danny Roberts scored twice with singles from Daniel Perry and Josh Burtt registering for the home side.

Ripstone replied thanks to goals from Tom Courtney, Matt Elgey, Dan Churchman and Jamie Critchlow.

Woodlands United gained a second win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Ardent, whose awful run of form continued.

Ashley Yelland, Ricky Fletcher and Michael Hooker were on target with the Woodlands goals, with Ross Parsons responding.

Division Three

Bushey Rangers moved within six points of leaders the Tree and with two games in hand following an 8-0 victory over Hertsmere, who are still looking for a first league win of the season.

Taylor Cobb, Chad Flahery and Gary Yervey all scored two goals each, with Dan Gillespie and Lewis Yates completing the scoring.

Division Four

Chess United beat leaders South Oxhey 3-0 to move up to fifth place thanks to Craig Putman’s double and one from Jack Honey.

Two George Ray goals fired Sun Postal Sports to a 2-1 victory over Oxhey Athletic 2-1, who had Richard McCrosson on target.