WSL Intermediate Cup Final

Fox & Hounds’ impressive season has continued and it could get even better after completing the first leg of a possible treble with a 5-2 victory over Tudor Athletic yesterday.

Third Division Tudor ultimately couldn’t cope with the pace, movement and fire-power of Fox’s front two of Bradley Thompson and Josh Noyes.

Thompson’s hat-trick took his tally for the season to 26 goals, whilst Noyes’ single increased his own scoring total to 16.

As the lower ranked side, Athletic would have hoped to have kept it tight early on, but they suffered a disastrous start when Matt Winyard fired the ball back past his own keeper Dave Barnes from the edge of the penalty area.

Despite this, Tudor’s more direct style and work rate helped fashion an equaliser after 20 minutes, with James Hockling turning home from six yards out after Fox’s defence failed to a clear a cross from the left.

Fox & Hounds stepped up the tempo at the start of the second period, with Joe Davies and Richie Stone in central midfield finally getting on top, and it was Davies whose neat pass allowed Noyes to turn smartly on the edge of the box to fire home to restore Hounds’ lead on the hour mark.

It went from bad to worse for Tudor a minute later when, after winning the ball back straight from the restart, a swift move allowed Thompson to score his first of the game with a well-taken effort from 20 yards out.

Athletic never gave up and went close to pulling themselves back into the final when Jack Robertson headed narrowly over with 15 minutes left.

But they were left to rue that opportunity when five minutes later Thompson struck again with a goal of real quality, turning with his back to goal some 25 yards out, and hitting a volley-come-lobbed effort into the net, giving Barnes no chance.

Thompson completed his hat-trick with five minutes left to seal the win when he slid home from close range.

Tudor did net a deserved second through Gary Wicks as the game moved into stoppage chance, racing through to net with a cross-shot. But it was not enough to take the gloss off a superb performance from Fox & Hounds.

Fox & Hounds: Bulling, Causbrook, Taylor, Hatherell (Edmondson 79), Edwards, Partington (Burgess 65), Davies, Bell, Noyes (Morrish 86), Stone (Stevens 87), Thompson (Partington 88). Sub not used: Friend.

Tudor Athletic: Barnes, Robertson, O’Connor, Winyard, D. Herbert (Mann 7), Storey (C. Herbert 65), Allen (Green 60), Hockling, Grierson, Wicks, G. Renphrey (D. Rephrey 30). Sub not used: Santos.

Challenge Cup Semi-Final

Old Fullerians pulled off a major shock beating Oakview, the holders of the cup since 2011 and finalists in every final since 2008, 1-0.

A single goal from Charlie Hailey was enough for Old Fullerians, who having already knocked St Josephs out in the third round means for the first time since 2001, neither Oakview or St Josephs will appear in the final on April 30.

The trophy showdown will see Fullers face the winners of this Sunday’s second semi-final between Rifle Volunteer and AFC Green Machine.

Premier Division

Reed Rangers kept up the pressure on Oakview in the race for the title as a 6-2 win over Met Police Bushey means they are four points adrift, although they are a game behind, with the two championship pursuers meeting this Sunday.

Karl Penny, George Hobson and Andrew Brennan all scored braces for Reed, whilst Met Police’s Rob Gradwell did the same for his side.

Robbie Martin, Callum McCaroll and Andrew Rockett were all on target for Chorleywood Club as they beat Green Dragon 3-0.

Division One

West Herts did all they could as they beat Croxley 6-0 to end their league fixtures top of the table, although it means Old Danes need only a point from their game against bottom-placed Croxley Community Centre on Sunday to seal the title.

Chris Colman’s hat-trick and one each from Tiago Campos, George Chopping and Sam Saleh got the goals for the Stags.

Colne Valley beat RD FC 6-3, the victory sealing a third-place position in the table.

Dave Rooney scored twice in two minutes as Valley took the lead after 15 minutes but some sloppy play then allowed RD to score three times in the same period of time through Elliot Myrants-Wilson, Wayne Stanley and Matt Green.

But that advantage was shirt-lived as Richard Williams equalised five minutes later and a within a minute, Krasi Makaveev had restored Valley's lead.

Rooney completed his hat-trick in the second half with two goals to seal the win.

Division Two

Oxhey Rangers’ 4-2 win over Bricketwood Social means they are off the bottom of the table for the first time of the season.

Having looked doomed to finish in last place for most of the campaign, they could now be in a position to pull off what would a true great escape.

Charlie Fordham scored twice and there was one goal each from Dan Pippin and Connor Murphy for the victors.

Tom Minton and Mark O'Connor were on target for Bricketwood, who have now slipped to the bottom of the table.

Bedmond held Evergreen to two draws in their double header which was not what the promotion-chasing South Way side needed.

Bedmond started the first game with just nine players, and held out until two further players arrived, and then Tedi Prushi scored to give them the lead.

They looked to have held on for the win, until the last minute when Alex Jokiel equalised after Bedmond failed to deal with a free-kick.

The second game ended goalless, leaving Evergreen with a very slim chance of the title and a fight to get the second promotion place.

Compasses North got the better of Rifle Volunteer Reserves 3-1, with Vilson Culaj, Maz Urgo and Mark McLaughlin scoring. Dan Bourne got the Rifle reply.

Rickmansworth Athletic and Cassiobury Rangers shared six goals in a 3-3 draw.

Shane Kitts with a double and one from Ross McGuire registered for the home side. But two goals from Joe Mortimer and Jack Henley’s single meant it was a point each.

Division Three

Bell Rangers’ 4-2 win over Ripstone means they have clinched promotion and need just a point from their final game to secure the title.

Tom Courtney impressed for Ripstone with two goals, but it wasn’t enough to stop Bell as Callum O'Connor also scored twice and Louis Soper and Craig Mckay also netted.

Division Four

League leaders Ardent easily overcame struggling Roundbush 17-1.

Charlie Salvage scored a double hat-trick, Chay Lewis, Andrew Humbles, Lee Spence and Jamie Kavanagh all netted twice and James Wilkinson and Dwayne Duncan completed the scoring. Keith Smith netted Bush’s consolation.

FC Woodside did all they could to keep up the chase on Ardent with a 3-0 win over Hertfordshire Lions.

John Battams saved a Woodside penalty in the first half, but in the second period they ran out winners thanks to two goals from Michael Griffin and one from Joe Fox.

Mid-table Inter defeated bottom-placed Railway Arms 4-0 thanks to strikes from Chris Stead, Ross Hughes, Nathan Khider and Dayo Akinlabi.

AFC Green Machine could only win one of the games in the double header against Woodlands Laurels.

Danny Roberts’ goal won the second match after the first had ended goalless.

Division Five

Batchworth did their fellow team AFC Batchworth a massive favour by holding second-placed The Tree to a 3-3 draw.

Title-chasing Tree will be kicking themselves as they threw away 2-0 and 3-2 leads, this coming after beating the same team 18-1 in their first league meeting back in November.

Craig Horwood and Andy Pryor looked to put The Tree on course for the win with two goals late in the first half, but Cameron Murray and Charlie Kimpton struck twice in a minute to equalise.

Craig Brownsell then netted from a corner to restore The Tree’s advantage, but with the game into the last ten minutes Murray scored his second of the game to give Batchworth a deserved point, leaving their opponents two points behind AFC Batchworth, albeit with a game in hand.

Mid-table sides William Morris and P&P Social produced nine goals with the latter edging the encounter 5-4.

Liam Coles with two, Sidney Burton and Aidan Maguire scored for Morris. But they were outdone by Billy Lobjoit, who scored a hat-trick to take his own tally for the season to 28, and the victory was completed with goals from Shane Slinger and Jimmy Talbot.