Danes make impressive start to top-flight life (From Watford Observer)

Olympian League Review

6:27pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport By Mark Bunn

Premier Division

Old Danes Athletic , who were promoted two divisions straight into the top flight over the summer following their second division title success last term, gave notice on Sunday that they don’t intend to go into the Premier Division to make up the numbers following an impressive 4-0 win over last season’s runners-up Colne Valley .

Sam Barrett put them ahead early on with a well-taken finish through the keeper’s legs. The lead was doubled soon after with a free-kick from Tom Kennedy.

Two more goals followed in the second half, with a penalty from Kennedy to complete his brace and a fourth from substitute Seb Mussi to give his side a dream start to the new season.

Premier Division champions Headstone Athletic had a winning start in the defence of their crown with a straightforward 4-1 win over last season’s first division winners Reed Rangers .

Matt Irons and Anthony Ball scored twice in as many minutes in the first half to put Headstone in charge before a well-taken goal from Dean Hammill put Reed back in the game. But sloppy play at the back gifted a goal to Shiva Kurup right on half-time.

Ball completed his brace after the break and Headstone where reduced to nine men with two sendings off in the final minute.

Cassiobury Rangers beat Kings Langley 2-0, with a goal in half from Jake Mortimer and Jack Henley.

Tudor Arms easily overcame a below-strength Woodside team 3-0 and give new manager Alan Bull a perfect start.

Luke Pochetty scored twice, supported by a goal from Jack Robertson.

Division One

All three games played in this division were high-scoring affairs.

Aquis beat Pavillion Rangers 5-4, with Dean Purdham scoring the first of his four goals to put them ahead before Aquis took a 3-2 lead into the break.

It was 5-2 early into the second period before two late goals from Purdham reduced the arrears.

Andy Wilson hit a hat-trick, with Kaveh Fatemian and an own goal also registering for the victors.

Headstone Lions edged out Inter by the odd goal in seven.

Nathan Khider put Inter ahead early on before Lions scored twice late on in the first half through Paul Davison and Ben Hammil.

Hammil then scored his second and his team’s third soon after the restart before Russell Fisher pulled a goal back for Inter. Jason Choat made it 4-2 but a free-kick from Khider reduced the arrears again before both teams were reduced to ten men late in the game.

FC APS and Amici fought out a 3-3 draw.

The visitors could only start with ten men and Mark Hathaway put the home side in front. Once Amici’s 11th player turned up they took control of the game and opened up a 3-1 lead before APS scored twice through Dean Evans and Scott Varley to secure a deserved point.

Division Two

It could be a long season for new side Bushey Olympians based on this result after they were demolished 20-0 by fellow newcomers Bovingdon .

Player-Manager Chris Truman scored four times, with three different players - Mick Markwick, Chris Kimonos and James Strivens - all bagging hat-tricks. Spencer Davies netted a brace and Harry Woods, Lewis Rae, Tom Rankin, Dave Marks and Darren Keen also found the net.

Cassiobury Revolution beat Colne Valley Reserves 4-2.

Darren O’Brien scored a brace for Revolution, supported by goals from Jake Burgess and Gary Fullwood. Steve Mayers and Jack Wilson were the Valley Reserves players on target.

Brookside came from behind to beat Ebury Olympians 5-2.

Ebury’s Gabriel De Marco Harvey scored twice on his debut but it was not enough to beat a well-organised and clinical Brookside team, who netted through Rob Dodkin (2), Johnny Armitt, James Blackwell and Neil Rosenbaum.

Roundbush lost 8-0 to Evergreen Olympians in the other game played.