Chairman’s Cup Final

South Oxhey Labour Reserves won the Chairman’s Cup after an exciting 3-2 victory over Roundbush at Kings Langley FC on Sunday.

The game started at a fast pace, with the first chance going to Roundbush when Liam Wigg’s run and cross ran away from David Flannery just yards from the goal.

Three minutes later South Oxhey had a glorious chance to take the lead when Jordan Aston-Woods, whose performance was enough to win the man-of-the-match award, managed to get the better of Bush’s right-back Phil Rogers; he turned inside but his effort flew narrowly wide.

Four minutes later it was South Oxhey who opened the scoring, much to the joy of their large vocal following in the 190-strong crowd. Jacob O’Hanlon and Aston-Woods combined well on the edge of the box, allowing Matt Westwood to steer home from five yards out.

Boosted by taking the lead, Labour remained on top for a spell and the impressive Aston-Woods cut in from the left to hit a shot narrowly past the far post.

Although Roundbush worked their way back into the game, top scorer Flannery seemed well policed by the centre-back pairing of Dean Orsmond and Billy Wilson until seven minutes before the break when the South Oxhey defence switched off for the first time and allowed a long ball into the box to be missed and the unmarked Flannery turned it past Adam Berger.

The equaliser clearly inspired Roundbush at the start of the second half and they started to get on top, going ahead for the first time seven minutes after the break when Flannery’s cross from the left was handled in the area by George Mole and the resulting spot-kick was slotted home by captain John Catterson.

South Oxhey responded well though, and after Aston-Woods saw his header crash against the crossbar and bounce over, they drew level from the penalty spot on the hour mark after Bradley Brunt was tripped just inside the area. Bush keeper Andrew Duncan got a hand to the ball but could only help Aston-Woods’ effort into the net off the right-hand post.

Having pulled themselves back into the game, it was South Oxhey who were the stronger side and with 17 minutes left Aston-Woods scored the decisive winning goal, racing in from the right and unleashing an unstoppable shot from about 20 yards out into the bottom left corner.

A minute after the goal, Labour were reduced to ten men when substitute Blake Scott was sent off for a clash. But despite having the numerical advantage for the final 15 minutes, Bush never really looked taking the tie into extra-time.

South Oxhey Labour Reserves: Berger, Payne, G.Mole, Bowen, Orsmond, Wilson, Brunt, J.Mole, Aston-Woods, O’Hanlon (Scott 53), Westwood. Subs not used: Baker, Gardner, Hodge, Beckford.

Roundbush: Duncan, Rogers, Nott (Lavelette 83, (Allan 90)), Allan (Clancy 77), Lowe, Relph (Williams 37), Brent (Jackson 64), Brown, Flannery, Catterson, Wigg (Edlin 90).

Premier Division

The chase for the Premier Division title remains on a knife-edge as the two sides in the hunt, Oxhey Hall Stars and Old Danes Athletic, were held to draws. It could have been worse for both though, as each had trailed 2-0 in their respective games.

Oxhey Hall came from two down against Prince George to draw level before their opponents opened up a 4-3 lead, only for a late equaliser to ensure a point.

Anthony Yelland and Tom Minton scored twice each for Prince George with the Oxhey Hall replies coming from a Mark Insley hat-trick and one from Dan Horton.

Old Danes found themselves in a similar predicament against Hertfordshire Lions, who are likely to finish the season bottom the table and have nothing to play for.

However, that didn’t stop them from racing into a 2-0 lead with goals from Louis McNamara in the first half and Dennis Fraser early in the second. But Old Danes managed to rescue a point through Chris White and Mark Shanahan.

The mid-table game between Nascot Arms and Bedmond resulted in a 5-5 thriller after Bedmond fought back from 4-0 down to lead 5-4, before a late equaliser salvaged a point for Nascot.

Nathan Pooley scored four times for Arms, including the late leveller, with the other goal coming from Scott Kilbane. Jordan Davies and Clement Asante both scored doubles for Bedmond and Tedi Prushi was also on target.

Division One

AFC Green Machine clinched runners-up spot after coming from 2-0 down against Batchworth to win 6-2.

Joe Brown and a penalty from Harry Lloyd put Batchworth in the driving seat after just 17 minutes, but a well-taken solo goal from Sid Jordan six minutes before the interval changed the whole complexion of the game.

Playing down the hill to their obvious advantage, Green Machine scored five second-half goals from Stephen Burke (2), Toby Spicer, Charlie Fowler and Sam Hailey.

A Chris Stead double and singles from Dan Kenna and Gareth Heavey fired Inter to a 4-0 victory over Watford Labour Club.