Junior Cup Semi-Finals

Batchworth and SOCA will contest this season’s Watford Sunday League Junior Cup final after they both won high-scoring semi-finals on Sunday.

Batchworth had to do it the hard way as they came back from 2-0 down to defeat White Horse 4-2 after extra-time.

Horse had the better of the early exchanges and their more direct approach paid dividends on the 20-minute mark when a long ball down the right-hand side was cut back to Josh Bulley who finished at the near post.

That lead was doubled within a minute when Ralph Thompson was left unmarked from a corner to head home.

Batchworth did not let their heads drop though, and got back into the game in some style when Callum Neal scored with a low 30-yard piledriver of a free-kick on the half-hour mark.

Substitute Rob King and fellow striker Mikel Walsh missed good chances to bring Batchworth level early in the second half, but they were not to be denied when a neat piece of skill from Jack McLaughlin was too much for a defender who brought him down for a penalty. McLaughlin duly stepped up to emphatically bring his side level by firing high into the top corner.

Batchworth then missed several opportunities to win the game in normal time as McLaughlin shaved the outside of the post with a free-kick and Walsh and King dragged good chances wide from inside the area.

The first period of extra-time seemed to see the tie swing back in favour of White Horse as they struck the outside of the post before Bulley inexplicably put the ball wide of an open goal from six yards.

That miss would come back to haunt his side as Batchworth completed their comeback in the second period when King crossed from the left for Walsh to find the back of the at the back post.

The final five minutes saw White Horse throw everything at their opponents and they came within centimetres of taking the tie to penalties when a looping cross from the right picked up pace and distance in the wind to beat Batchworth keeper Bart Kazmierczak but it struck the crossbar.

White Horse then sent up their own keeper in the final minute, but Batchworth broke on the counter-attack and McLaughlin scored his second as he found the net from the half way line wide on the right

The other semi-final also saw plenty of goals and extra-time as SOCA edged out Woodside Wanderers 4-3 after the game had ended 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes.

Tyler Connor scored a brace for SOCA, with Conor Chapman and Bradley Bridges also on target, while Dave Flannery (2) and Raf Junior-Martins responded for Woodside.

President’s Cup Quarter-Final

Last season’s beaten finalists St Josephs are through to the last four after a 3-1 away win over Chorleywood Club.

Chorleywood had the better of the first half and went ahead on the half-hour mark thanks to a goal from Clement Asante.

After a poor display in the opening 45 minutes, St Josephs stepped up a gear in the second half and they struck twice in quick succession when Daniel Griggs and Ellis Douglas combined twice for the latter to score a brace.

Hugo Figerido sealed the win with a curling shot.

Chairman’s Cup Quarter-Final

Everett Rovers edged past Fox & Stone 2-1 in the battle of two of the First Division heavyweights.

On a difficult pitch made worst by the windy conditions, neither side were able to play much football but it was Everett who took the lead mid-way through the first half when Reece Cameron headed in a Luke Preedy free-kick.

Rovers had more control of the game in the second half with the wind in their favour and Joshua Squires Adams doubled their lead when his 25-yard effort gave the keeper no chance.

Fox pulled one back with ten minutes to go through Josh Noyes but Everett saw the game out to reach the semi-final.

Premier Division

Tudor Athletic’s outside hopes of the title have all but ended after they went down to a 3-2 home defeat to Old Fullerians who registered only their third league win of the season.

Athletic went ahead in the first half when a clearance from the Fullerians keeper fell to George Hobson who lobbed the ball into the net.

Fullerians equalised towards the end of the first half when Charlie Hailey's ball in from the left from was met by Stephen Pich who dinked his finish over the keeper.

Having got back on terms, Fullers took the lead in the second half when Ryan Woosley back-heeled to Hailey and he found the top corner of the net.

That looked to be enough but there was to be a dramatic finish to the contest.

With a minute left Tudor looked to have salvaged a point when a cross from their right was headed home by Spencer Bellotti at the back post.

But deep into added-on time Hailey smashed home from the left-hand side of the box to snatch the win back for Fullers.

Division One

The two second tier games to beat the both ended in draws.

AFC Leavesden were held to a 1-1 draw at home by FC Woodside.

Leavesden’s Terry Piper had a penalty saved by Woodside keeper Simon Ross but soon after Callum Galvin headed in an Alex Diaz free-kick.

Woodside got their equaliser in the second half when Callum Hailey fired home from inside the box.

Six goals were shared equally as North Watford and Langleybury CC finished with a point apiece.

North Watford went ahead thanks to Conner Flanagan scoring from a corner, Colin Wilson equalised before Flanagan netted his second of the game.

Langleybury looked to have done enough to win the game in the second half as they scored twice thanks to goals from Matt Tanner and Josh Spinks, but with five minutes left Liam Fowler headed in the North Watford equaliser.

Division Two

Oxhey Spartans pulled level at the top of the table on points with The Victoria after a 2-1 win over Chess United.

Liam Hanley and Joe Brown scored the Spartans goals and Alex Halls got the Chess reply.

Division Three

After losing 10-1 to the same side two weeks ago, RBL Croxley gained some measure of revenge over Skyline with a 2-1 victory.

Callum Hearn scored both RBL goals, with Fizzy Ahmed netting the Skyline reply.

This defeat means Skyline are now unable to overtake Sun Sports in the title race, although both Woodside Wanderers and SOCA both remain with a mathematical chance of finishing top of the table.