Eric Hand Challenge Cup Round Three

Reed Rangers needed extra-time to finally overcome Old Fullerians 4-3 in what was the third meeting between the two teams in six weeks.

The previous two encounters had ended in a 3-3 draw in the league and an 8-1 win for Reed in the Herts Senior Cup, so it was not easy to predict the outcome of Sunday’s clash beforehand.

Rangers struck first after five minutes when Miley Cash drove into the box and squared for John Smith to shoot, with the ball taking a slight deflection on its way over the keeper’s head.

Their opponents were to have the better of the first half though, and levelled five minutes before the break when the ball was played in to Ryan Woosley on the edge of the box and he set up Charlie Hailey to side-foot home.

However, Nick Kerley fired Reed back in front on the stroke of half-time after a cross-field pass from Jamie Speer fell at his teammate’s feet.

Fullerians equalised for a second time 15 minutes into the second half when a corner from the left was only partially cleared to the back post where Ryan Woosley curled in a left-footed finish.

It was the same player who put Fullers ahead in extra-time and this looked like it would be the winning goal until late in the second period.

First a Cash pass found Dan Tearle running in to the box from the left side and he made no mistake with a clinical finish, and then with only a minute left Kerley raced down the left and delivered a fine cross for Dom David to tuck home the winner.

Second Division Ardent needed penalties to beat Fourth Division The Victoria after a 2-2 draw.

The lowest ranked side left in the competition, Victoria where left to rue several missed chances to cause a big upset, having gone ahead after 18 minutes through Matt Mason.

Ardent improved after the break and levelled midway through the second half when Dwayne Duncan headed home.

The Victoria then struck the inside of the post, and had two one-on-one chances, before they looked to have won the tie with eight minutes left when Dan Bourne cut the ball back from the by-line for Ben Stallard to score.

The lead lasted only four minutes though, when a long free-kick from Duncan missed everyone and flew into the net.

Extra-time failed to produce a winner but the outcome was decided when Bourne saw his penalty strike the inside of the post and bounce away as Ardent scored all five of their spot-kicks.

Holders Oakview had what looked to be a difficult task on paper against Second Division leaders Bushey Rangers, but an upset was never really on the cards as they ran out 7-2 winners.

Luke Beardsworth put them 1-0 up in the first minute with a curling free-kick and the advantage was doubled by Lewis Putman on the half-hour.

Beardsworth got his second early in the second half, only for Bushey to strike back with two quick-fire efforts from Chad Flaherty and George Davies.

After a nervy 10-minute spell Putman and Beardsworth both scored in the space of two minutes to kill the tie. Luke Lloyd made it 6-2 before Putman also completed his hat-trick.

Rifle Volunteer also faced a tricky-looking tie at First Division Langleybury CC but they came through 6-3 winners thanks in no small part to five goals from player-manager Gary Froy.

Glenn Thompson drove Langleybury ahead early on, but Rifle soon levelled when Froy fired home with his weaker left foot.

Thompson headed in his second to put Bury back in front, but the game was to turn in their opponents’ favour just before the break.

Elliott Myrants-Wilson delivered a cross to the back post where Froy sent a bicycle kick back across goal to equalise, and he was to complete his treble in the last minute of the half from a penalty after Chris Killer had been brought down.

Froy added two more after the break, including another spot-kick, Connor Sills pulled one back for the home side, before Lewis Koch netted Volunteer’s sixth.

Having already put out Premier Division Old Danes Athletic in the previous round, First Division FC Unicorn narrowly failed to cause another upset as they went down 2-1 against Chorleywood Club.

Robbie Martin put Chorleywood in front after 19 minutes, but Unicorn then missed several good chances to equalise, including striking the woodwork three times.

Martin sealed the win 10 minutes from time with a well-struck free-kick, although Danny Warwick did reply late on from the penalty spot after Callum O’Connor was fouled.

West Herts are enjoying a much-improved season and they reached the last eight with a 2-1 win over Fox & Hounds.

Darren McArthur made the breakthrough for the Stags with a near-post header following a Jeremy Audic cross from the left.

Fox levelled at the start of the second half when Alex Witham fired home from a corner.

West Herts struggled to create many chances from open play but their winner arrived from an Audic corner after 65 minutes, with Khodi Cain heading home.

An Aleks Jokiel goal was the difference as Evergreen edged out Cassiobury Rangers 1-0.

Premier Division

Old Danes Athletic went top of the Premier Division after a 2-1 derby win over Rickmansworth Town.

Colin Spooner toe-poked Old Danes head before Olli Burkes saved a penalty.

The lead was doubled at the start of the second half when Ross Bennett spotted the Rickmansworth keeper off his line and floated the ball over his head from 40 yards out.

A. Sharkey pulled a goal back for the home side but Old Danes held on for the three points.

Division One

FC Woodside moved into second place after a 4-1 win over Bushey Sports Club as AFC Bedmond and Tudor Athletic could only play out a goalless draw.

Tom Dettmer’s through ball found Drew Snailham, who chipped the keeper to give Woodside the lead.

Snailham then turned provider when his run and cross was tapped in by Matt McManus, but Bushey halved the deficit shortly before the break from a Rob Gradwell penalty.

Snailham made it 3-1 when he latched on to a through ball and took it round the keeper before slotting home and Dettmer netted the fourth from close range.

Division Two

Everett Rovers cut Bushey Rangers’ lead at the top of the table down to two points after a 10-1 win over Ricky AFC, who have now lost all five of their league games.

Meshach Williams netted five for Everett with Luke Preedy and Jake Knight scoring a double each. Harry Panayioufou got their other goal as Shane Kitts grabbed Ricky’s consolation.

Ripstone are up into third place after beating The Tree 4-3 thanks to Matt Elgey’s brace and one each for Lee Culverhouse and Tim Wilson.

Two-goal Triantafilos Skapetis and one from Harry Rush replied for the home side.

Northwood are in fourth place after they hammered Sun Regent Sports 7-1.

Craig Mathieson led the way with a hat-trick and Ollie Cattle, Shaun Wheeler, Bradley Foot and George Dalling also netted. Aarron Crawford got the Regent reply.

Division Three

AFC Leavesden made it five wins out of five after an 8-0 triumph against Oxhey Rangers.

Tom Bourke scored twice with Alex Diaz, Lucas Halligan, Ozzie Ogbebor, Callum Gavin, Mike Porter and William Coombs also finding the target.

Their nearest rivals Oxhey Athletic were also big winners as they put 11 unanswered goals past Batchworth.

Liam Coles struck four times and Conor Murphy three, with Liam Hanley, Jay Jarvis, Jack Browse and own goal rounding out the scorers.

Adam Rawlings and Klevis Dervishi were on target as Woodlands United beat Chess United 2-0.

Division Four

Leaders SOCA came back from 2-0 down to beat White Horse 3-2.

White Horse led thanks to an early penalty from Phuttakhoo Surawat and a goal from Nelson Gomes after the break looked to have secured all three points.

However, SOCA produced a remarkable comeback after seeing their goalkeeper sent off midway through the second period, securing the win through Conor Chapman’s brace and a Bradley Bridges goal.

Hews are in second place, although they are seven points behind the leaders after beating Sun Postal Sports 7-0.

Jamie Beaumont struck a hat-trick, Luke Potchetty netted twice and Nathan Pooley and Liam Doran added a goal each.

Skyline beat RBL Croxley 2-1 to get a first league victory of the season after an open, attacking game.

Asif Khan and Sam Marskell got the all-important goals, with Will Keddy netting the RBL reply.