Herts Sunday Junior Cup Round One

Six teams made it through to the next round of the Herts Junior Cup as the competition, which 13 Watford Sunday League (WSL) sides have won since it started, got under way at the weekend.

Inter made it through after a dramatic tie, defeating The Victoria 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

The WSL outfit had a dream start when Jordan Heggie put them ahead after two minutes but Inter missed several chances to increase their lead before The Victoria equalised just before the break. Both sides cancelled each other out in the second half, sending the tie into extra-time.

The contest remained level until the second period when The Victoria went ahead for the first time with a scrambled goal following a corner. That looked to have secured their progress, but as the game entered the final minute of extra-time Inter were awarded a penalty, which was slotted home by Dayo Akinlabi.

Inter’s goalkeeper Andy Thompson was the hero of the shoot-out, saving twice to allow Inter to advance through.

Bell Rangers defeated MBDA FC 2-0 after Max Halcomb had opened the scoring from inside the box.

Matthew Owens went off with an injury halfway through the second half, leaving Bell to play out the remaining time with just ten men. But it didn’t seem to make much difference when two minutes later Callum O'Connor scored the second goal to seal the win.

AFC Green Machine defeated Marshalwick Rovers 4-2 thanks to a brace from Daniel Perry and singles from Matt Harris and Lee Puddephat.

The all-WSL tie between Revolution and Ripstone saw the vistors edge through 3-2.

Khizer Bandhari and Paul Shelock scored for the home side but two from Matthew Elgey and Joe Hardie saw Ripstone into the next round.

Both Woodside and Roundbush enjoyed good away wins.

Woodside beat Spread Eagle 6-1, with Drew Snailham hitting a hat-trick, supported by a double from Nathan Gullen and a single from Lewis Edwards.

Roundbush won 3-0 at White Hart thanks to a David Flannery brace and one from Russell Lavalette.

The other WSL side through are The Tree, who won 6-1 at home to Broxbourne AFC.

Andy Pryor scored four times with Glenn O’Malley netting the other two goals.

Four of the league’s sides suffered narrow high-scoring defeats away from home.

Meriden lost 5-4 to Broxbourne Rangers Old Boys and both Chess United and Tudor Athletic went down by the old goal in seven to Cheshunt Lions and Hitchin AB respectively.

A double from Jordan Aston-Woods and one from Joe Perrin couldn’t prevent Railways losing 6-3 to Birchwood Rangers.

Woodlands Laurels suffered a single goal defeat at home to Cheshunt Cobras, Ardent lost 2-1 at Pinewood whilst it was a morning to forget for Garston Rangers who lost 6-0 away to Landrovers. Sun Postal Sports were knocked out 4-0 by Letchworth Albion, P&P Social suffered a 7-1 humbling at home to AFC Mymms and William Morris fared little better in a 6-1 exit to Tom Tiddlers Tavern, with the goal coming from Jay Jarvis.

Green Dragon Reserves were given a walkover against Maccabi London Lions B and The Compasses are likely to be awarded the tie against Two Chimneys after the away team failed to turn up.

Premier Division

Newly-promoted Chorleywood Club’s good start in the top flight continued with a 3-3 draw against last season’s runners-up Reed Rangers.

James Edwards put Chorleywood ahead in the first half, but in the second period Reed went ahead through Chris Blunden and Charlie Webster before Ryan McMahon levelled.

Dominic David restored Reed’s lead but it was not enough as Edwards scored his second of the game with five minutes left to leave both teams with a point each.

Champions for the last three seasons Oakview started their title defence with a 1-0 win over Rickmansworth Town, Luke Beardsworth scoring the winner.

Old Fullerians enjoyed a good morning’s work with a 6-1 win over Rifle Volunteer.

Sam Parker struck a hat-trick, supported by a brace from Craig Totton and one from Steve Pich. Rob Gaffney netted the Rifle’s sole reply.

Division One

Last Season’s Division Two runners-up Colne Valley had a good start in the next tier up with a comfortable 3-0 win over West Watford.

Joe Murphy gave Valley an early lead and that was doubled thanks to a Tom Seamons penalty just before the break. The win was wrapped up in the second half when substitute Andy McKenzie-Bell scored after Gray Mumford struck the post.

West Herts beat Old Danes Athletic 5-3 in an end-to-end game.

Chris Coleman bagged a brace with the other goals for West Herts scored by Jeremy Audic, Tiago Campos and Roger Lake. All three Danes goals came in the second half from Mike Burke, Craig Bennett and Jordan Woodcock.

Croxley won 4-2 against North Watford thanks to a Carl Pettitt hat-trick and a further Thomas Hughes goal.

Aamer Khan and Shoib Ali got the Watford goals, but it was period in the first half which cost them after conceding three times in quick succession.

Oxhey Lions edged out RD 3-2 after Kerry Halladey, Liam Hanley, Darren Rowe scored for the home team, with Jake Levy and an own goal registering for the visitors.

Croxley Community Centre and AFC Oldfellows drew 1-1, with Jay Armstrong scoring for Croxley.

Division Two

Langleybury Cricket Club are the early pacesetters after a second win, this time 7-1 against a poor Oxhey Rangers team.

Greg Cook was the star man for Langleybury, scoring four times, with Jamie Madden, Matt Honey and Mark Edgar also finding the net. Matt Hooper scored the home side’s single goal late on.

A hat-trick from Joe Mortimer helped Cassiobury Rangers beat Bedmond 7-2.

Cassiobury had the game won by half-time as they led 4-0, those goals including a peach from Ryan Tarleton. Clement Asante pulled one back for Bedmond before further Rangers strikes followed from Jack Henley, John Harris and Mark Ferguson. Asante scored his and his team’s second late on.

Evergreen edged out Compasses North by a single first-half flicked goal from Ant Benvenga.

Fox & Hounds beat Rickmansworth Athletic 3-1, coming from 1-0 down at half-time thanks to two goals from Tom O’Connor either side of Ritchie Stone’s effort.

Bricketwood Social won 2-1 against Rifle Volunteer Reserves.

Ben Goode was on target for the home side, with Martin Saseverino and Paul Bullen scoring the crucial two goals for the visitors.

Division Three

Hertsmere got the better of Woodlands United 2-1.

Tommy Cox and Gavin Sullivan scored for Hertsmere as Klevis Dervishi replied for Woodlands.

Division Four

AFC Batchworth made it two wins out of two after a 4-3 victory over AC Little Silhouette of Milan.

Korby Bryan and Alan Palmer–Halligan both found the net twice for Batchworth as did Tom Pegrum for AC, for whom Joe Hitchins was also target.