Birkdale Trophies Challenge Cup Quarter-Final

Old Danes Athletic faced off once more in a cup tie against Hertfordshire Lions on Sunday and managed to win a tight game 1-0 which puts them through to a semi-final against Oxhey Hall Stars.

These two sides probably know each other better than most having been drawn against one another in both the league’s major cup competitions in the last two seasons.

Despite both sides being at opposite ends of the Premier Division table, their latest meeting proved to be a close affair.

Hertfordshire were content to soak up pressure from Old Danes and hit them on the break in a cagey first half with neither side having any real clear-cut chances.

The game opened up more after the break with both teams going close before Mark Shanahan broke the deadlock mid-way through half when he fired home from 12 yards.

Old Danes had to survive some very heavy pressure in the final ten minutes, with goalkeeper Oli Burkes producing three vital saves to help put his team through.

Division One

Meriden went back to the top of the table with an impressive 6-0 home win over Batchworth.

Tom Dettmer took his tally for the season to an impressive 22 goals and is now the leading scorer in both divisions thanks to a brace.

He was supported by two goals from Charlie Bird and singles from Chris Melsome and Aarron Crawford, who is the second top scorer behind his teammate in both divisions.

Roundbush have a strong claim to be the league’s most improved side this season.

Having only won two league games in the entire two previous campaigns, they are already up to three for this season after an 8-2 victory over bottom-placed Watford Labour Club, winning the game thanks to a six-goal blast in the first half.

The scoring was opened by James Brent and it was soon followed by goals from David Flannery, long-range efforts from both Lawrence Brown and John Catterson and the first-half blitz was completed by Tom Allan and James Brent.

Watford Labour scored twice through Robert Linsley and Clifford Rowson at the start of the second period, but Allan and Flannery both completed doubles for the morning to wrap up the win.

AFC Green Machine defeated Inter 2-0 ahead of the clubs’ rematch this Sunday in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup.

Both goals came in the second half from Daniel Perry and Charlie Fowler.