Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Round Three

It was a successful morning for the Watford Sunday League with three sides making it through to the next round, although Ardent and Cassiobury Rangers both did it the hard way as they required penalty shootouts to progress.

Ardent came from behind three times to draw 3-3 at Bury FC after 120 minutes, before winning their shootout 4-1.

The visitors fell behind after 20 minutes when they failed to clear a cross, and Bury then had an excellent chance to double the lead soon after but Ardent keeper George Rawlings saved a penalty.

Ardent equalised just before half-time when they were awarded a spot-kick of their own which Charlie Salvage converted.

Another defensive error allowed Bury to re-take the lead early in the second half, but Ardent continued to press forward and Craig Clark levelled.

However, they were to fall behind for a third time from the restart when a goal was scored from the halfway line, but Ardent still refused to give in and they hit back within a minute when Clark netted his second to send the tie into extra-time.

No further goals were scored in the additional 30 minutes, but Ardent were once again grateful to keeper Rawlings in the shootout for saving a penalty to clinch the victory after an earlier Bury miss while their opponents successfully converted all their efforts.

Cassiobury Rangers came through 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Old Pond Athletic, with all the goals coming in the first half.

Rangers started strongly and took the lead when Rob Ladmore rose highest to head home a Sam Mortimer free-kick.

Athletic fought back to take the lead, but Cassiobury levelled just before the break when Jack Henley found Joe Mortimer who rounded the keeper to slot home.

The second half and extra-time were a little flat with few clear-cut chances, although the game remained end-to-end. The best opportunities fell to Old Pond, but Cassiobury keeper Bradley Finch was on hand every time.

Finch then made the difference in the shootout, saving the first spot-kick he faced.

Joe Mortimer, Ladmore, Sam Mortimer and Aidan Lesslie all netted before Corum Chase scored the decisive penalty to put Rangers through.

The other side into round four are Fox & Stone after they brushed aside league rivals West Herts 14-0.

The tone was set within the first two minutes when the Stags gave the ball away inside their own penalty area and Tim Wilson intercepted and smashed home.

Wilson scored a first-half hat-trick along with further goals from Josh Noyes and Leigh Stevens to send Fox in 5-0 up at half-time.

Noyes scored five times in the second half to complete a double hat-trick. Defenders Joe Hardie and Dan Saunders also got themselves on the scoresheet, Hardie with a diving header and Saunders with a surging run after intercepting a pass and firing into the bottom corner.

Brad Thompson joined in the free-scoring fun after an Alex Witham strike rebounded off the post for him to finish, and it fell to Witham to net the 14th with the last kick of the game.

First Division leaders Maple Cross were knocked out following a 5-3 defeat to Blacksmiths Reserves.

Struggling with an understrength team, Cross still took an early lead through Nathan Davis, but this advantage did not last long as Blacksmiths netted three times before the break.

They added two more in the second half before a late Cross rally saw Davis net his second and Tom Horton also notch.

Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Round Two

Bushey Sports Club went down to a 3-0 defeat to Harpenden Colts Old Boys.

Premier Division

The only top-flight fixture to survive the rain saw Chorleywood Club gain a first three points of the season with a 4-1 home win over a St Josephs side who remain at the foot of the table following a fifth straight defeat.

All five goals came in a frantic final 15 minutes, the breakthrough being made when Louis Hakner finally broke St Josephs’ dogged resistance after they had been reduced to 10 men midway through the first half.

Three minutes later Clement Asante doubled the lead before Lionel Simoes pulled a goal within a minute.

But any hopes of comeback were ended with two Chorleywood goals in the final seven minutes, with Hakner netting his second before Andrew Rockett completed the scoring in the last minute.

Division One

Bushey Rangers pulled off a dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to beat AFC Bedmond 5-3.

The hosts stormed ahead with goals from Jordan Toomey, Sam Hakner and Niall McDonough, before Rangers pulled one back through George Davis three minutes before the break to change the whole complexion of the game.

The second period saw James Henney head home nine minutes into the half and then a penalty from the same player five minutes later pulled Rangers level.

Both sides missed chances and the game looked to be heading towards a draw before Bushey scored twice in the final five minutes through Gary Yerby and Tyrone Tomlin to complete the comeback.

Everett Rovers enjoyed a comfortable 6-0 derby win over North Watford, with an outstanding performance from the visitors highlighted by a Meshach Williams hat-trick.

Williams opened the scoring after 10 minutes and then had a goal disallowed before Mark Hansard finished well on the turn to double the lead. The hardworking Jake Knight then made it 3-0 before half-time.

Williams scored his second mid-way through the second half, Luke Preedy netted the fifth before Williams completed his hat-trick.

Division Two

ER’s whole season has changed in the past month. After a terrible start with four defeats, a third league win on bounce has moved them into third place in the table.

They staged a superb comeback to defeat Woodlands United 1984 5-3, coming from three behind with only 15 minutes left.

First-half goals from Sean Beyaz, Nick Roberts and Matt Bower looked to have sealed the three points for Woodlands, but at half-time ER keeper Dan Burke came on field and helped turn the game on its head.

Despite a far better second-half performance the game looked beyond ER, but with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining Burke converted a free-kick from the edge of the box, and within a minute he had fired home a 25-yard shot giving the keeper no chance. Then with five minutes left Burke won the ball and put Kevin Fisken through to equalise.

The game was still not over though, as Burke sent over a free-kick for George Evans to put ER ahead for the first time with three minutes left, and then with a minute left he claimed a third assist by providing a cross for Tom Lane to head home.

Bennetts End Rovers made it eight wins out of eight with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Croxley.

Lee Puddephatt, Liam Flaherty and Kye Allport scored for Rovers, with Croxley replying through Luke Dolan and Samba.

Oxhey Spartans are the closest team to Bennetts End after they beat Dome Bar 3-0 thanks to goals from Jordan Aston Woods, Bradley Brunt and Roberto Da Silva.

The other game saw Chess United and Ricky AFC draw 1-1, Dana Anderson scoring for the home side and Ryan Allen netting the Ricky reply.

Division Two

There were goals galore in the third tier with 27 scored in four games.

SOCA retained top spot with a 7-2 win over RBL Croxley.

Ellis Brown hit a hat-trick, Tyler Connor added a brace and Charlie Cole and Cameron Clarke were also on target. Darren Obrien and Callum Hearn responded for RBL.

A Hertfordshire Eagles side including several former Batchworth players won 6-3 against them to move into fifth place in the table.

The home side scored four times in the first half before Batchworth, who had also been reduced to 10 men during the first 45 minutes, battled back in the second half with goals from Sam Hollis, Owen Page and Mikel Walsh.

But it was former Batchworth player Alex Knottage who sealed the win against his old team with Eagles’ sixth, the other goals coming from Jordan Osborne’s hat-trick, Charlie Ford and an own goal.

There was another high-scoring affair as Woodside Wanderers beat White Horse 5-3.

Gary Wicks netted a hat-trick with Aaron Crawford and Nelson Santos also finding the back of the net.

Craig Putman scored a double in reply for Horse who also had Charlie Garner also on target.

A single goal from Ben Dunton was enough for Sun Sports to beat Skyline 1-0 and move above their opponents into second place in the table.