Watford Sunday League: WD Bushey suffer Herts cup final defeat

The Watford Sunday League side had led 2-1 until the dying seconds of added-on time being before conceding an equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Strafford, who lost in the final two years ago against St Josephs, looked the more assured and confident side in the opening exchanges, while their opponents appeared very nervy and uncertain, especially at the back, in contrast.

Jack Woods put a header wide in the first minute and lively winger Eri Felix saw his run and shot well saved by WD keeper Modou Faye.

Faye again was called into action soon after, this time pushing away a shot from George Atkinson.

WD did start to work their way into the contest with Hodje Almeida-Joaquim, who had an excellent game, having their first real effort on goal with a cross shot which flew inches wide of the far post.

But it was Strafford who went ahead after 27 minutes when Luke Lane fired home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

Despite that setback, WD hit back six minutes later when Almeida-Joaquim’s run and cross was turned home by Hamze Ali to leave the scores level at the break.

An accidental clash of heads between WD’s Alessio Torrano and Arms’ Matt Walsh in the first minute of the second half caused a lengthy stoppage which would have consequences later on, with Walsh retuning to the fray sporting a Terry Butcher-esque head bandage.

WD looked far more settled in the second half and started to take control of the game.

Ali had what looked like a strong appeal for a penalty waved away, but after 67 minutes, following a period of sustained pressure, Corum Chase fired home from inside area just eight minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Having taken the lead for the first time, WD survived a let off just two minutes later when the dangerous Lee Dykes struck the cross bar from long range.

At the end of the 90 minutes, a minimum of ten added minutes was indicated and this seemed to breathe new life into Strafford Arms, as they almost relentlessly surged forward, pushing a visibly tiring WD back.

In the ninth minute of the added-on time, a big goalmouth scramble saw Faye just manage to hold onto the ball, then seconds later Dykes struck the outside of the post with the ball spinning wide.

But there was still one final sting in the tail with the game in the 12th minute of added-on time when a long, hopeful ball over the top caught the WD defence out, allowing Dykes a clear one-on-one run through on goal from which he made no mistake netting, sparking wild scenes from the Strafford bench.

WD had been just seconds away from winning the game. Almost straight from the restart, the referee blew to send the final to a shoot-out.

WD went first in the penalty contest, and both sides had netted twice before WD’s Daniel Moss saw his effort saved by Gregory Marsh.

Jacob Noonan scored for Strafford, before Chase, whose goal had looked to have won the final, saw his effort well saved by Marsh, leaving Ethan Williams to slot home the winning kick to give his side the cup.

Strafford Arms: Marsh, Flack, Williams, Carruthers, Lane, Sears, Woods, Atkinson (Noonan 68), Dykes, Walsh (Davis 71), Felix. Subs not used: Haboubi, Franklin, Mandeville.

WD Bushey: Faye, Twomey (Salami-Rasheed 75), Bevan, Palmer-Inyang (Fisken 90+5), Belle, Almeida-Joaquim, Demare (Carter 90+7), Ali, Sinisi (Chase 59), Torrano, Ward (Moss 85).

Division One

SOCA sealed the First Division title with a 2-1 victory over the only other side which could have caught them, Chalfont Saints.

After a nervy opening for both sides it was SOCA who went ahead when Stevie Dowling laid the ball across the face of the goal to Leandro Mathias, whose shot seemed to have been held by the Saints keeper before rolling slowly across the line.

SOCA doubled their lead when Mathias slipped the ball into Conor Maher who side stepped his marker and fired home, leaving their offside appealing for offside in vain.

Saints pulled a goal back through Steve Willis from a corner.

The defeat leaves Saints in second place with a game to play which once again will be against SOCA.

A Watford Sports player tries to get away from an opponent (Image: Watford Sports FC)

Old Fullerians moved above Watford Sports into third place after beating them 3-1.

All the goals came in the second half, with Sports taking the lead thanks to a Taylor Kemp goal when he slotted past the advancing keeper after riding a couple of tackles.

The away side hit back soon after, with Mark Needham picking up the ball outside the box following a corner and finding the bottom left corner.

They then went ahead when a Charlie Munroe corner was met by Charlie Hailey who gave the keeper no chance with his header.

The home side pressed for the equaliser but it was Fullerians who sealed the win, with Jake Entwistle scoring a fine solo goal.

Division Two

Champions Everett Rovers rounded off the season with a 4-1 win over Sparta Phoenix who still have a chance of clinching the runners-up spot.

Alfie Fitzpatrick, David Spencer, Michael Dankwa and Jordan Standley netted for Everett, with George Pascoulis getting the Phoenix goal.

Phoenix need to beat Francis George this Sunday to seal second place ahead of St Joseph’s Reserves who have two games left to play, and are four points behind.

Hertfordshire Athletic ended their first season in the league with a 7-2 win over Abbots Wanderers which secured fourth place in the table.

Sam White scored a brace, supported by goals from Ed Price, Reece Hatherell, Ollie Matthews, Ed Rogers and James Hicks. Alfie Ball and Jack Stone replied for Wanderers.

Despite finishing in fourth, Athletic look on course to have scored the second highest number of goals scored in the division, 64.