Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Round Two

A clerical error by Herts FA which has resulted in many of the league’s sides from Division One playing in the Intermediate Cup rather than the Junior Cup contributed to only two sides making it through to the next round.

One of those sides affected, South Oxhey Labour Club Reserves, had a 6-3 away win over Hogs Head.

Oxhey had a dream start when Joe Barton gave them the lead after just 30 seconds and he went onto complete a first-half hat-trick. An own goal from Hogs Head also followed, with the home side pulling a goal back before the break.

In the second half goals from Jake Mole and Matt Westwood gave South Oxhey what looked to be an unasailable lead, before a late rally from the home side saw them net twice, as well as seeing a penalty saved by Jake Andrews.

Old Danes Athletic, who have been placed in the correct competition, managed a narrow 2-1 home win over Fairway Tavern.

Goals from Chris White and Colin Spooner put the hosts 2-0 ahead by half-time, but the visitors fought back after the interval and halved the deficit via a penalty with 20 minutes.

The tie between Bedmond and Hemel Athletic was abandoned at full-time with the scores locked at 2-2.

The home side had fought back from 2-0 down thanks to two goals in the final ten minutes from Jordan Davies and substitute Jack Browes.

However, extra-time could not be played because another match was scheduled on the same pitch immediately after and a decision will now be made by Herts FA.

Hertfordshire Lions, who enjoyed a good run in both the Junior and Intermediate cups in the past two seasons, did not progress this time around as they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Watford Sunday League side AFC Oddfellows with the only goal coming 15 minutes from time.

The other two Olympian League versus Watford Sunday League ties also ended with wins for the Watford sides.

Oxhey Lions beat Prince George 4-1 with the George goal coming from Danny Bailey.

Roundbush, another of those sides that should have been placed in the Junior Cup, suffered a 7-2 home defeat to Met Police (Bushey). David Flannery and Martin Clancy got the Bush goals.

Tom Dettmer’s effort could not save Meriden from a 3-1 loss at Marina Vale, while Nascot Arms were beaten 6-0 at home by Bradmore Rovers.

Asked about the ‘clerical error’, the Herts FA released a statement. It read: “We currently organise 22 County Cup competitions, and a small fraction of Sunday clubs have been drawn into the incorrect County Cup competition. This error is due to miscommunication between the Olympian Sunday Football League, the Hertfordshire FA and the clubs involved.

"We want all of the 2500 youth and adult teams across Hertfordshire to experience the magic of playing in the cup, so we’re currently working hard to resolve any outstanding issues with draws for the County Cup competitions.”

Premier Division

Oxhey Hall Stars took advantage of most of the other side’s playing in the County Cup to move into second place following a 7-4 home win over Phoenix United.

In an end-to-end game, Oxhey Hall led 3-0 after 20 minutes thanks to two penalties from George Brockwitz and one from Dave Smith.

Phoenix pulled a goal back two minutes later through Darren O’Brien, before Oxhey netted again via Paul Kenwright. But again United replied almost immediately with a Matt Bryne goal.

Will Keddy scored a fine solo effort to reduce the arrears back to just one goal two minutes into the second half, but Oxhey Hall scored a fifth through Kenwright. Once again though, United responded thanks to Byrne’s second, a brave header as the keeper came out.

The game hinged on a frantic spell of play in the final ten minutes when with an open goal gapping, Keddy missed a glorious chance to equalise.

Phoenix were left to rue their chance a minute later when Smith scored his second of the contest and three minutes later Mark Insley wrapped up the win with a well-taken strike from 20 yards.

Division One

Batchworth and Watford Labour Club fought out a 3-3 draw to give both sides their first point of the season.

In a game littered with bad defending from both sides, it was Labour who took an early lead with a John Barker goal before Batchworth levelled through Chris Woods.

Mark Bedford restored the Labour advantage with a close-range header from a corner, but Batchworth levelled for a second time right on the stroke of half-time through Sam Hollis.

Batchworth went ahead for the first time after the break via Cameron Murray, but with the game in injury time Chris Bignall snatched a point.

AFC Green Machine picked up their first league victory of the season as goals from Toby Spicer and Sid Jordan gave them a 2-0 win over Dome Bar.