Arms win delayed final (From Watford Observer)

Olympian League review

2:47pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport By Mark Bunn

President’s Cup Final (2011/12 season)

The delayed final was finally played at Croxley Guild, with Tudor Arms beating Kings Langle y 5-2.

There are many who believed Kings were extremely fortunate to be playing in the final at all after being found guilty of using a suspended player in the original semi-final against Inter back in January. They where then removed from the competition but appealed the decision and an appeals committee of the league controversially allowed them to replay the semi-final, which they won.

The first half was played in a heavy downpour and driving wind, making the conditions very difficult, and in part these played a part in the Langley opening goal after seven minutes when Steve Lovell chased down a hopeful ball, Tudor keeper Sam Harper slid out to collect it but lost control of the ball, allowing the Kings player to tap into an empty net.

The lead only lasted 12 minutes though, as Luke Pochetty fired home from Dan Robertson’s run and cut back. Tudor went ahead five minutes later when Jack Robertson headed in from a corner on the left.

Now in charge of the game, Tudor made it 3-1 ten minutes before the break when Pochetty scored his second, and four minutes after that Lee Taylor scrambled the ball the ball over the line from close range.

With the rain easing at the start of the second half, Langley pulled a goal back 14 minutes after the restart when substitute James Heard fired home from the penalty spot. But any thoughts of a fight back were ended four minutes later when a swift Tudor counter-attack followed Dan Robertson to complete the scoring.

Tudor Arms: Harper, O’Connor, McDermott (Jones 65), Plunkett, T Herbert, Smith, D Robertson, Collins, Pochetty (Roope 65), J Robertson, Taylor. Not used: Mallouppa, C Herbert and Barnes.

Kings Langley: Jones, Carter (Heard 45), Sookum, McGill, Hartles, Haughton, Tattman, Rowland (Starling 68), Minton, S Lovell, May. Not used: Evans, Wheeler and B Lovell.

Premier Division

Woodside produced the shock result of the day with a 4-3 win over the champions Headstone Athletic .

A Drew Snailham penalty for Woodside separated the teams at the break and the same player added a second after the restart when he ran from his own half to score.

Headstone fought back to level the scores through Pete Owen and Shiva Kurup but Woodside went back in front thanks to Nathan Gullin’s deflected shot.

Athletic once again levelled through Kurup, but in the last minute Paul Craig netted Woodside's winner.

The other Premier Division game also saw a surprise, with Reed Rangers beating Colne Valley 3-2.

Dean Hamill put Reed ahead before Martin Skinner headed home the equaliser, only for Dan Tearle to put Rangers back in front.

That cushion was extended to two by Jamie Speer after the interval and it proved to be enough, although Gary Mumford did pull one back for Valley.

Birkdale Trophies Challenge Cup Round One

Premier Division Cassiobury Rangers won the Cassiobury derby, beating second division Revolution 3-1.

A shock looked on the cards at half-time as Revolution led 1-0 thanks to Anthony Highet’s breakaway goal.

However, Rangers managed to turn the game around after the break, with Frank Blande, Jake Mortimer and Simon Eastaugh scoring.

Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Round One

Inter were beaten 5-1 at home by Chorleywood Club .

Kieran Ellis scored the Inter goal in the first half to reduce the deficit to 2-1 but the visitors ran out easy winners.

Division One

Headstone Lions overcame Watford Labour Club 5-3.

Mark Bedford scored twice for Labour and Chris Walsh was the other man on target as they came back from 3-0 down to draw level.

Two-goal Jamie Grierson and an own goal had put Headstone seemingly in the driving seat before two late goals from Joe Manfredini and Jason Choat won them the points.

Amici had an easy 5-0 win over Pavillion Rangers , with James Brent and Josh Noyes both scoring doubles and Dave Morrish also netted.

FC Aps' unbeaten start to the season continued with a 6-1 victory over WD Athletic .

Martin Clarke and Chris Cook both scored braces, with Trystan Adlington and Scott Munroe also on target.

Division Two

Chris Kimonos struck a hat-trick, Lewis Rae scored in the opening period and Tom Rankin added a second-half brace to give Bovingdon a comfortable 6-0 win over Brookside .

Ebury Olympians survived a fightback to edge out Colne Valley Reserves 4-3 by the odd goal in seven.

Olympians dominated the first half, leading 4-0 at the break thanks to an early own goal, and others from Matt Howlett, Gabriel De Marco Harvey and Jason Quilley.

The game turned with 17 minutes left when Colne Valley were given a weak penalty which Jack Wilson converted. Two minutes later he scored again and five minutes from time Dan Wright reduced the arrears to just one, but they were unable to find a fourth goal.

It’s not looking good for Bushey Olympians as they suffered another heavy defeat, this time 15-0 to Evergreen Olympians .

Steve Stratford and Martin Tebbs both scored four times, Jack Garratt hit a hat-trick and Neil Yull a brace, with the others coming from singles by Dan Burke and Stuart Stratford.

Oxhey Park defeated Roundbush 4-0 through Connor Flynn (2), Mike O’Connor and Charlie May.