Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Semi-Final

Fox & Hounds’ fantastic 15-game winning run was ended by the cruellest means in football; the dreaded penalty shoot-out and with it went their hopes of playing in the County Cup final after a 1-1 draw with Blacksmiths Arms saw them go down 4-1 in the shoot-out.

In a hard-fought tie, it looked like that Bradley Thompson’s goal would be enough to send Fox through to the final. But with just ten minutes left, the home side equalised with a goal from Aidan Golds.

The two teams couldn’t be separated during the additional 30 minutes, and in the shoot-out the home side converted all four of their kicks to secure their place in the final.

Division Two

Langleybury Cricket Club beat bottom-placed Oxhey Rangers 7-1 to cut Fox & Hounds’ lead at the top of the table to just two points, although they have played two more games.

Nathan Pooley and Jamie Madden both scored braces, with the other goals coming from Robbie Edgar, Dan Byron and Mark Edgar. Connor Murphy netted the Oxhey consolation.

Division Three

Meriden beat Hertsmere 4-1 in the only other game to survive the weather and leapfrog over their opponents in the table.

It didn’t look like being Meriden’s morning as they went behind early on to a goal from Marcus Mengal.

The home side then missed a golden chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty, but Ben Dunton saw his kick saved by the Hertsmere keeper.

But Dunton made up for the penalty miss five minutes later, winning the ball before taking it on himself to level up the scores.

It was one-way traffic towards the Hertsmere goal after the break and Dunton was again at the centre of the action when he scored with a bicycle kick.

With Hertsmere pushing forward, Meriden caught them on the counter-attack as Joe Baldwin raced through the defence to score his first goal of the season.

Meriden added a fourth from Carl Giacone in the final minute to complete the win.

Green Dragon Reserves resigned from the League on March 2 and their playing record in Division Two has been expunged as per league rules.