Watford Sunday League: St Josephs' FA Sunday Cup run continues

The game got off to the worse possible start for Joes when they went behind after just 90 seconds following a free-kick, but they hit back just three minutes later when Lewis Davis chipped the keeper.

Joes went ahead for the first time in the tie after half-an-hour after they broke the offside trap and Liam Smyth squared for Davis to net.

Three minutes into the second half, Hotel drew level from the penalty spot, but once again Joes hit back with Daniel Griggs volleying home from 12 yards out.

The victory was sealed thanks to a second penalty of the game when Ronnie Blagden slotted home after Keane Fullwood was brought down in the area.

Any hopes of a fightback from the visitors were ended when they were reduced to ten men following an elbow on Luke Peerless.

The defeat was Market Hotel’s first loss in any competition since May 2022 and now sets up a quarter-final tie against the 2022 runners-up Highgate Albion - formerly of the Barnet Sunday League and now playing in the SFL league - on February 18.

The assistant referee's view of the action in St Josephs' memorable victory (Image: St Josephs FC)

Eric Hand Challenge Cup Third Round

Third Division Bricket Wood Acorns caused the only upset of the round when they knocked out First Division Old Fullerians 1-0.

Both sides missed good chances before Charlie Micklewright scored the only goal of the game in the second half when he netted from close range.

North Watford, runners-up and winners for the past two seasons, made easy work of Third Division Surely Wood with a 6-0 away win.

Ashley Lewis set up Omar Vassel for the opener after 18 minutes, and then seven minutes later Lewis himself netted after a Vassel shot was parried into his path by the keeper.

The scoring continued seven minutes later when a Ben Hiney corner was headed home by Mohammad Ali Khan, before Lewis converted his second of the game.

Ayoub Enajar made it 5-0 with an overhead kick which struck the crossbar before crossing the line 12 minutes from time, and the victory was completed four minutes later when Youssef Enajar struck with a long-range effort.

Like North Watford, Glenn SSC had a similar result against lower ranked opposition as they defeated the side second in the Second Division Sparta Phoenix 5-0.

Sparta gave it a real go in the opening exchanges but in the end were outclassed.

Glenn opened the scoring when James Henney capitalised on a Lewis Putman corner, then Putman again turned provider five minutes later with a pass for a Tom Kennedy flick on at the near post to make it 2-0 at the break.

Glenn sealed the result in the second half with Putman scoring twice to go with his two earlier assists before Henney headed in to seal the victory.

Cassiobury Rangers were another Premier Division side up against strong opposition from the Second Division in Everett Rovers, and they were made to fight all the way before running out 5-3 winners.

Cassiobury started well and went ahead when Rob Ladmore got the slightest of touches past the keeper after a free-kick from Conor Callanan.

The Division Two leaders equalised with a long-range shot from Sam Waller which took a heavy deflection.

Cassiobury then scored twice to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

First Jamie McDougall carried the ball forward before lifting it over the top for Austin Osunsedo to square for Alexi Andreas to net from 12 yards.

Osunsedo then went from provider to scorer when a Sam Mortimer corner was headed on by Guy Hamilton and dropped for him six yards out to drill home.

In the second half, Everett threw everything at their higher ranked opponents and scored twice to level the tie.

First a corner wasn't cleared by the Rangers defence and Archie Potton headed home, then Michael Dankwa bundled home a corner.

Just as it seemed the tie had swung towards the underdogs, the Premier Division side regained their composure and sealed the victory with two late goals from Nathan Page.

The game between Third Division Carpenders Park Royals and Premier Division Forza Watford was abandoned ten minutes into the second half with the score 0-0, due to a serious player injury and will now be rescheduled in the coming weeks.

Premier Division

Second-placed WD Bushey won their game in hand 2-1 against Abbots Langley Club to cut North Watford’s lead at the top to just four points.

WD scored twice in as many minutes in the first half, with Jack Carter netting against his former team and Corum Chase firing into the bottom corner.

Alieu Gibri pulled a goal back for the home side in the second half following an error from the WD keeper, but they couldn’t find an equaliser despite heavy pressure.

Evergreen easily swept aside local rivals FC Unicorn 6-1.

The victors had the best start possible as they scored twice in the opening five minutes with goals from Joss Dunham and a penalty awarded for a handball which was slotted home by Jake Sahota.

He went on to score twice more before the end of the opening 45 minutes to complete a first-half hat-trick.

Unicorn got themselves back into the contest in the second period when they netted a penalty of their own through Sheldon Berkeley following another handball, before Steve Wilson got on the scoresheet and Sahota struck his fourth of the game.

Division Two

Leaders Chalfont Saints have a five-point advantage at the top after they beat Chess United 4-1.

Tom Sugrue opened the scoring after some good work by Will Jones, who then netted himself to make it 2-0 before the break.

Chess pulled a goal back after half-time when Jamie Ivory scored with one-on-one chance, but the away side sealed the win when Andre Ford struck twice to make it two wins over Chess in just three weeks.

Second-placed Watford Sports lost the big derby to SOCA 4-1.

The victory leaves SOCA in third place, three points behind Sports but with three games in hand.

Jake Howell struck home a 25-yard free-kick to give SOCA an early lead before a long ball found Taylor Kemp who lobbed the keeper from over 30 yards out to bring Sports level.

Howell then scored his second of the half, latching onto a loose ball outside the box to put his side back in front.

SOCA added two more goals in the second half through Jordan Austin and Stevie Dowling to inflict on Sports just a second league defeat of the season.

The Cross bounced back from two consecutive defeats with a 4-0 home win over Langleybury, leaving them in fourth place in the table.

The Cross took the lead early on when right-back Nnamdi Onyeagwara raced forward and struck home from just outside the box.

Jay Iheanacho doubled the lead early in the second half from close range.

Raphael Wiredu then made it three when he managed to squeeze past three defenders to score into the top corner.

Langleybury could have reduced the deficit when they were awarded a penalty but they were thwarted from the spot for the second time this season by keeper Liam McDonagh who kept out Oliver Illot’s effort.

David Flannery rounded off the scoring in the last minute with a composed finish in the top corner.

Watford United overcame Batchworth 4-2 with all the goals coming in the first half.

United struck three times in the first 15 minutes, with Daanyaal Anwar giving them the lead before two more goals soon followed from Adam Anwar.

Batchworth pulled themselves back into the game when Charlie Bird netted following a long throw in, but once again their defensive frailties were exposed as Ayo Fasanya made it 4-1.

However, Batchworth managed to get on the scoresheet for a second time when Scott Gilzean tapped into an empty net following a defensive mix up between keeper and defender.

Division Two

With the top two sides, Everett Rovers and Sparta Phoenix, in cup action, third-placed Dunnings Bar missed a chance to go into second place after they suffered a 3-1 defeat to mid-table West Herts.

Jason Topping scored twice for the Stags with Dylan Caton also on target. Dan Kershaw replied for Dunnings.

Hertfordshire Athletic moved into fourth place with an impressive 4-0 win over St Josephs Reserves.

Ed Rogers, Ed Price, Josh Greengrow and an own goal gave Athletic the victory.

Frances George beat Watford Youth Sports 2-1, Luke Furlong and Brett Beaumont with the goals for George, with Oliver Frost replying for the away side.

Abbots Wanderers still can’t get their first win after they drew for a fourth time this season, this time a 4-4 home result with the team directly above them at the bottom of the table Dome Bar.

Johnny Vassey scored a hat-trick along with a goal from Matthew Zandes for Abbots, but Dome Bar claimed a point thanks to a brace from Jay Haynes and one apiece for Steve Noonan and Adam Finn.

Division Three

The two games played in the bottom division produced 16 goals.

AFC Watford put eight unanswered goals past Abbots Athletic, Peter Rock and Tommy Edwards both scoring hat-tricks with Ross Benton and Evan Quinn also on the scoresheet.

Woodside Reserves now have a whopping 14-point lead at the top of the table after they overcame Everett Rovers Reserves 6-2.

Lui Potiuk led the way with a brace, alongside goals from Jonathan Lappert, Tom Garratt, Josh Towle and Jamie Dunlop. Regan Weiser and Charlie Powell were on target for Everett.