Chairman’s Cup Final

Glenn SSC completed a league and cup double in what they hope will be a treble after narrowly defeating Woodside 3-2 at Oxhey Jets.

The victors will be hoping to complete that feat this Sunday when they travel to Letchworth to face Emperors Head in the final of the Herts FA Junior Cup.

The battle of the champions of the First and Second Divisions saw all the goals come in the opening 34 minutes and all scored after set pieces.

It was the higher-ranked Woodside who went ahead after 14 minutes when Ollie Lawford curled in a free-kick from the edge of the area which Mark Richards managed to get a hand to it but could only push the ball up into the net.

The lead only lasted three minutes as Glenn equalised direct from a corner when Frankie Henley’s delivery from the left deceived everyone and swung all the way into the far right-hand corner of the goal.

Glenn went ahead for the first time six minutes later, Sam Clark getting the final touch onto a James Hocking header following a corner.

The goals didn’t stop as within four minutes Woodside drew level and again it was after another corner, this time Tom Garratt rose above the Glenn defence to score with a powerful downward header.

What turned out to the be the decisive goal came 11 minutes before the break when Clark scored his second, tapping in from close range after a Hocking header hit a post following yet another corner.

The second half was a far cagier affair, although Lawford had a great chance to level the contest seven minutes after the restart but his effort was well saved by Richards.

Not helped by two heavy downpours during the half, the match settled into a midfield battle, and it wasn’t until the final ten minutes that it opened up once again.

Tom Kennedy almost put the game beyond Woodside with a long-range effort that was superbly tipped away by Simon Ross for a corner, and a minute later Lewis Putman curled a free-kick narrowly wide.

Woodside pushed forward in the closing stages and a minute into added on-time they were awarded a free-kick in an almost identical position as the first goal, but this time Lawford saw his effort deflected for a corner.

This was dealt with, and was the final chance for Woodside, in an excellent game played in the right spirit between two very good teams.

Glenn SCC: Richards, McGeachy, Yerby (Avis 63), Lloyd (Deamer 63), Henney, Hocking, Smith, Kennedy, Putman, Clark (Blunden 56), Henley. Not Used: King, Wheatley.

Woodside: Ross, Dunlop (Weimar 72), Brandy (Gullin 72), Moldovan (Parkins 88), Allan, Dolan, Lawford, Hardman, Garratt, Fox, Parkins (Federico 63). Not Used: Cooper, Snailham.

Herts FA Senior Cup Semi-Final

St Josephs are through to a ninth County Senior Cup final and a second in successive seasons as they will defend the trophy on May 21 at Letchworth against Borehamwood Rovers, and attempt to win it for a seventh time.

They came through a titanic struggle with Barnet Sunday League side Southbury, twice coming from behind to leave the scores tied at 2-2 after 90 minutes, the game going straight to a penalty shoot-out which they won 3-1.

Joes had the chance to go ahead after 25 minutes, but had a penalty well saved by the Southbury keeper, and ten minutes later they went behind following a well-taken effort from the edge of the area.

Ten minutes into the second half, Joes levelled when Louis Bamgboye bundled the ball in from a corner, but almost straight from the restart their opponents were awarded a penalty of their own which was converted.

Joes poured forward in search of a second equaliser but it looked like it wouldn’t be their day until, with ten minutes left, they were awarded their second penalty, and the third in the game overall. This time Louis Stead stepped up and made no mistake to send the tie to a shoot-out.

With St Joes winning the toss, they went first and Stead once again netted. Southbury levelled, before Joes missed, handing the home team what looked like the advantage but Charlie Patmore saved Southbury’s second penalty to keep the scores level.

Liam Smythe converted and then the third Southbury spot-kick was well saved well once again by Patmore. The fourth Joes penalty was well taken by Dan Griggs.

Now under pressure, Southbury had to score, but Patmore completed a hat-trick of shoot-out saves to seal the victory.

Premier Division

Champions North Watford have taken over at the top of the table following a 5-0 victory over Cassiobury Rangers.

It gives them a seven-point lead over third-placed St Josephs, who do have two games in hand and the teams also have to face each other.

Cassiobury were doing the two other title contenders a real favour at the break, holding the home side to a goalless draw after the opening 45 minutes, but in the second half it was one-way traffic.

Ashley Lewis slotted home from the edge of the box to break the deadlock, and within minutes he doubled the lead from a free-kick.

Reece Cameron then laid on the third goal for Jerome Federico, before Cameron himself scored, and Lewis completed the win from close range to seal his hat-trick.

Division One

Chess United saved themselves from relegation with a 3-0 win over Watford Sports in their last game of the season, meaning it will be Chalfont Saints who will join Langlybury CC in the Second Division in the next campaign.

After coming under early pressure, George Adams scored with a long-range effort which caught out the home keeper to give Chess the lead.

Safety was secured thanks to two goals in the final 20 minutes with a penalty from captain James Richmond, and Cameron Murray sealed the win after rounding the keeper and slotting home from a tight angle.

SOCA go into their final game against Watford Sports this Sunday with promotion resting in their own hands.

They just have to win to pip Forza Watford for second place behind champions Woodside after coming through a high-scoring affair 4-3 against already-relegated Langleybury CC.

Langleybury took the lead with a goal from Connor Sills, before SOCA scored twice before the break through Jordan Austin and Micah Burton.

Austin converted a penalty to put his side 3-1 ahead early in the second half, but the game wasn’t over as Rob Bennett struck twice to draw Langleybury level.

However, Kane Clifford kept SOCA’s promotion hopes on track when he headed home a corner late on.

Division Two

St Josephs Reserves' fight against the drop continued as they picked up a point from a 4-4 draw with Dome Bar.

Mitchell Turle and Jude Brasenell scored twice for Joes Reserves, with Nathan Pooley and Sean McDonagh doing the same for Dome Bar.

The mid-table match between Dunnings Bar and West Herts ended 1-1, Flynn Duncan and Al Hammouda with the goals.

Division Three

Inter did what was required of them as they sealed promotion with a 4-2 over Rio Rovers.

They did it the hard way, coming from 2-0 down after goals from Richard McCrossan and Alex Lubin gave Rovers the avantage.

But Inter hit back thanks to two goals from Gabriel Casagrande and one each for Chris Stead and Dan Kenna.

This means Inter finish on 40 points and the only side now who can catch them for the title are Everett Rovers who swept aside Chorleywood Club AFC 7-1.

Louie Muncie scored a hat-trick, supported by a brace from Harry Durbin and singles from Jack Mullen and Reneekay Jones-McLean, with Catalin Pirtache replying for the home side.

Everett who have three games left, two against fourth-placed Batchworth, are the only side who can get the second promotion place ahead of Inter.