Watford Sunday League: St Josephs triumph in Challenge Cup final

St Josephs won the Watford Sunday League’s senior cup competition for a 14th time with a hard-fought 1-0 victory after extra-time against holders North Watford to keep them on track for a stunning quadruple.

The win comes 44 years since Joes’ first triumph in 1979, although it is their first victory since 2010, and means they are now just two wins away from lifting another two trophies after retaining the President’s Cup last month.

Joes are due to meet North Watford again tomorrow evening to decide the destiny of the league title, before facing Borehamwood Rovers in the Hertfordshire FA Senior Cup Final at Letchworth this Sunday.

There was little to separate the two teams in Sunday's final. (Image: Len Kerswill)

While the Challenge Cup showdown was not a classic, it was nevertheless engrossing as the league’s top two teams in the past two seasons went toe-to-toe for 120 minutes.

Both teams had only each conceded 12 goals in their 13 league games and it showed, with the defences well organised.

After an evenly-matched first half of few chances, the game opened up more at the start of the second period with Joes keeper Charlie Patmore and his opposite number Juliusz Pizio both pulling off good saves.

North Watford keeper Juliusz Pizio makes a fine save. (Image: Len Kerswill)

With 20 minutes left, and only two minutes after coming on as a substitute, North Watford’s Isa Rotimi thought he had given his side the lead when he fired home, only for the goal to be chalked off for handball by the linesman, sparking furious protests from their management and players.

They also had a glorious chance to win it four minutes from time when Gurkan Gokmen could only blaze over the bar with the goal at his mercy from five yards out.

North Watford had the better of the first half period of extra-time, with Patmore once again denying the opposition with two superb saves.

St Josephs celebrate Louis Stead's winning goal. (Image: Len Kerswill)

With the game 11 minutes from being settled by a penalty shoot-out, Joes finally broke the deadlock.

Jake Tabor, who had been kept quiet until then by the North Watford defence, finally broke through down the left and cut the ball back from the dead ball line to Louis Stead, who had raced up from midfield to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Despite heavy late North Watford pressure, Joes held on for the win to get what could be a huge week off to the best start.

St Josephs celebrate their cup triumph. (Image: Len Kerswill)

St Josephs: Patmore, Brinton, Hailey (Cobb 83, (Yallop 114)), Stead, Deritis, Bambgoye, Tabor (Smith 111), Blagden (Byron 93), Seabrook, Cobb (Peerless 63), Griggs. Not Used: Smyth.

North Watford: Pizio, Enajar, Speers, Alexander (Stolboushkin 93), Brown, Hubbard, Gokman (Gladdy 120), Gladdy (Castanho 111), Lewis, Federico (Penny 101), Benfield (Rotimi 68). Not Used: Cameron.

Attendance: 140

Division Three

The final game of what has been the league’s most open division this season will have one final twist.

With Everett Rovers needing to win to clinch the title from Inter, and leading 2-0 against Bricket Wood Acorns with 19 minutes left, the game had to be abandoned by the referee due to a serious injury.

The outcome of this match will be decided by the league committee shortly.