Eric Hand Challenge Cup Round Three

First Division Fox & Stone caused a major upset as they defeated Premier Division Tudor Athletic 3-1 in the Watford Sunday League Challenge Cup.

The game was open from the start with both sides playing attractive football, but it was the underdogs who opened the scoring when Brad Thompson beat the offside trap and was put through on goal, rounded Cameron Inch but was brought down by the keeper.

Alex Witham stepped up and although Inch got a hand to the ball, he was unable to keep it out.

Fox soon doubled their lead when Witham picked up the ball on the left before playing a pass to Tim Wilson who fired into the top corner.

Tudor came out strongly at the start of the second half and got back into the tie when Tom Inch headed home from 10 yards out.

Tudor had a great chance to equalise but their opponents were thankful to a great save from Richard Bulling as he came racing from his goal to prevent what would have been an almost certain goal.

Fox secured the win late on as Witham linked up with Ciaran Walsh before the former emphatically finished in the far corner to seal the upset.

Premier Division Old Fullerians survived an upset with a 7-4 win after extra-time against Second Division Croxley after the tie had finished 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes.

Fullerians took the lead in the first half when a cross from Stephen Pich was headed in at the far post by Charlie Hailey.

After Croxley had equalised when a ball over the top was finished by Rubon Gomes, their opponents regained the lead through a Craig Totton free-kick.

Croxley once again levelled, Luke Dolan latching on to a flicked-on goal kick, rounding the keeper before the covering defender could only divert the shot onto the post and back off Dolan and into the net.

Fullerians went ahead for a third time after the break, this time a long kick from Martin Richardson evaded the defence for Hailey to round the keeper and slot home.

Croxley spurned one opportunity to respond again when they missed a penalty, but they were not to be denied as Ben Howells went past two defenders and fired into the bottom corner.

The additional half-an-hour saw two Totton free-kicks and an own goal from his cross pull Fullerians clear, but Hailey also completed his hat-trick in the second half when he guided home a Charlie Munroe cutback.

Croxley finished the scoring with a shot into the bottom left corner from player-manager Mark Penny.

Eric Hand Challenge Cup Round Two

AFC Bedmond won the all-First Division tie against West Herts 4-2.

Jordan Toomey’s penalty and Sam Hakner put Bedmond in control, but the Stags pulled a goal back through Jason Topping.

A superb individual effort from Mauro Urgo restored the hosts’ two-goal cushion, but a spirited West Herts again battled back thanks to a penalty from Anthony Maylor.

The exciting tie was put to bed once and for all when Toomey added his second, running through and slotting into the net.

WSL Junior Cup Round One

Hertfordshire Eagles and Inter could only be separated by penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Eagles scored through Charlie Kimpton and an own goal, with Owen Harvey netting a brace for Inter. Eagles won the shootout 3-1.

Premier Division

Evergreen moved up to fourth place in the league thanks to a 4-0 win over Chorleywood Club.

The victors finally made the breakthrough when the Chorleywood keeper saved a shot but it cannoned into Steve Wilson and back into the goal.

Just before the break a swift break was coolly finished by Tom Verbena.

Unlike the previous week, Evergreen maintained their high tempo and scored a third thanks to a fine solo effort from Jamie Robertson who ran nearly half the length of the pitch before slotting home.

The fourth goal was again a good finish by Verbena who followed up after the keeper had saved a Ben Adams shot.

The clean sheet was maintained when Joss Dunham saved a penalty late on.

Division One

Maple Cross dropped league points for the first time this season after they were held to a 4-4 draw by North Watford.

It could have been far worse for the league leaders though, as they had to come from 3-0 down in the first half after Connor Flanagan had scored twice from the penalty spot and Carlos Alberto netted the third.

Cross pulled themselves back into the game thanks to two goals from Craig Horwood, first heading in a long throw and then firing home a long-range effort.

It looked like they had completed the comeback in the second half when Andy Pryor came off the bench to score twice, but North Watford secured the point they probably deserved when Flanagan completed a hat-trick late on.

Everett Rovers and AFC Leavesden also managed to score eight goals between them, with Rovers prevailing 5-3.

Leavesden took the lead early on when Eli Kefas broke through, his effort rebounding off the post before Lucas Halligan put it away.

Everett hit back with three quick-fire goals from Mark Hansard, Luke Preedy and Josh Squires Adams.

It was AFC’s turn to come from behind after the break when Alieu Gibril headed in at the far post before Kefas equalised from close range.

But Everett won the game thanks to two late goals from Hansard and Preedy.

Bushey Rangers beat FC Woodside 3-2 to move into fourth place and keep pace with the top three.

Woodside could only field 10 players for the entire game and a poor first half saw them 3-0 down at the break.

The scoring was opened by an own goal before efforts from George Davies and Lewis Yates, while Bushey also saw a penalty saved by Simon Ross.

Drew Snailham scored twice in the final 15 minutes for Woodside, but it was not enough to rescue what would have been an unlikely point.

Division Two

ER FC moved up the table after a second straight league victory, 6-0 at home to Chess United.

Andre Federico and Lui Potiuk both scored doubles, with Aaron Robinson and Chris Wells also on target.

Leaders Bennetts End Rovers made it seven straight wins with a 6-1 triumph over Ricky AFC.

Josh Burtt, Dan Doran, Shaun Booth, Callum Jones and Liam Flaherty were all on target, with Shane Kitts registering Ricky’s sole reply.

Division Three

Skyline returned to the top of the table with a 6-0 win over Watford Athletic.

Asif Khan broke through to win a penalty which Shoaib Ali calmly tucked away.

A through ball then split open the Athletic defence, allowing Khan to convert and give Skyline a two-goal advantage at the break.

The second half was near total domination from Skyline as they added four further goals.

Shoaib Ali and Asif Khan both completed their braces, with the former scoring his 16th of an already impressive season.

Centre-backs Talha Chohan and Faraaz Iqbal then added gloss to the scoreline, with Iqbal scoring the best goal of the day as he curled a fine effort into the top corner.

Sun Sports kept up their challenge in the title race with a 5-2 win over White Horse.

Sun took the lead via a scrappy goal after a free-kick from Dion Belle was crossed in and the ball was bundled over the line by Ryan Boyle.

A second quickly followed from Ben Dunton to make it 2-0 just before half-time.

Sports started the second period quickly to make it 3-0 via a low drive into the bottom left corner from Hamze Ali, only to then take their foot off the pedal and allow Craig Putman to pull two goals back.

Sun were not to be denied though, and Dunton scored twice late on to complete his hat-trick and the victory.