Watford Sunday League: North Watford make winning start

Cassiobury started well but it was the home side who took the lead when a blocked shot span through beyond the backline and Mohammed Ali Khanwas reacted quickest to poke home from close range.

Cassiobury didn't let this affect them and soon drew level when a corner from Sam Mortimer was met by Jon Burch, who powered home a header.

Rangers pushed on and took the lead when Myles Shahidi played a reverse pass to put Aidan Lesslie in behind the North Watford defence and he squared for Mortimer, who had a relatively easy finish.

North Watford came out for the second half with greater positivity and they equalised when Dylan Young guided the ball into the far corner.

As the game reached its final minutes, North Watford secured the win when Ashley Lewis dispatched a penalty.

The two other teams expected to challenge for the title, WD Bushey Rangers and St Joseph’s, both enjoyed high-scoring wins against the two newly-promoted sides.

WD Bushey beat SOCA 5-1, although they were given an early scare when the home side went in front thanks to an own goal after a George Dalling cross was turned into his own net by a defender.

However, WD levelled in the final minute of the first half thanks to penalty from Stevie Ward.

Rangers had a much easier time of it after the break, with Daniel Flanagan scoring a hat-trick alongside a strike from Massimo Sinisi.

St Joseph’s, back under the management of Scott Patmore and with a new-look team containing many former Glenn Sports players from last season, put seven unanswered goals past Chalfont Saints.

Lewis Putman scores goals whoever he plays for and the new Joes’ captain made the breakthrough when he rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Owen Ayres then scored with a header from an Ollie Lawford cross.

Putman added the third in the second half, an Ayres volley made it 4-0 before Putman completed his hat-trick with a finish into the bottom corner.

Taylor Cobb added to the rout with a great finish, with Putman finished the scoring with his fourth late on.

Action in the area from Everett Rovers' victory (Image: Everett Rovers FC)

Division One

Following back-to-back title successes Everett Rovers put down an early marker for this season with a 5-0 home win over CF Watford Continentals, who finished in mid-table in the last campaign.

A first-half brace from Jordan Standley and an Emmanuel Ojeah goal saw Everett go into the break three goals to the good.

It was more of the same in the second half where Everett netted twice more through Sam Waller and Lucas Roberts.

Watford Youth Sports 1st, who have been in the promotion mix the last two seasons, enjoyed a 4-1 home win over newly-promoted Sparta Phoenix.

Sparta led 1-0 at the break after Ralph Thompson drove into the box and cut back for Matt Lewis to slot home.

The second half was a different story with Taylor Kemp winning and then scoring a penalty to equalise for the hosts before the same happened again for Sports to take the lead.

Another goal from Kemp, this time from open play, extended the advantage to 3-1 before Alex Clarke added one more for the hosts.

Chess United, who just escaped the drop at the end of last season, opened with a 3-2 victory over Watford Town.

Chess went ahead early on after a Sam Blackwood free-kick was headed in by Sean Jones.

Town equalised shortly after when Callum Galvin scored with a volley from close range, but Chess were back in front before half-time thanks to a simple tap-in by Cam Murray at the back post.

In the second half, United made it three after a Alex Halls shot rebounded off the defender, back onto him, and into the net.

Watford were able to get one back when Zack Inyang scored from six yards.

Forza Watford, relegated from the Premier Division, beat Old Fullerians 3-1, who missed out on an instant return to the top-flight by just six points.

Fullerians took the lead midway through the first half thanks to well-taken goal from Jake Entwistle.

Forza equalised soon after when Fullerians gave the ball away in their half and a swift counter attack allowed Guiseppe Delgaudio to score from close range.

They took the lead just before half-time when the same player glanced home at the near post.

The home side sealed the three points early in the second half with a goal from Blanden Trigg.

The other promoted side, St Josephs Reserves, beat Watford United 5-1.

Joes had a dream start, opening the scoring after just two minutes, and went on to take a 4-0 lead before the visitors pulled a goal back from Adam Anwar, with the victors scoring again late on.

George Rice netted twice for Joes, with Mitchell Tearle, Luke Broad and Max Foley also on target.

Eyes on the ball in Watford Youth Sports 1st's win (Image: Watford Youth Sports FC)

Division Two

Hertfordshire Athletic, the highest ranked team left from last season’s Division Two, beat the promoted Third Division champions Woodside 4-2.

Henry Gibbor led the way with a double and Josh Anwar and Jack McLaughlin were also on target for Athletic. Tom Garratt and Joe Fox got the Woodside replies.

WD Bushey Rangers Reserves overcame Frances George 3-2.

Sabir Noor, David Flannery and Ben Wallis netted for the home side, with Gary Hennicke and Lewis Taylor getting the George goals.

Watford Youth Sports 2nd and Langleybury shared the points after a 1-1 draw.

Louis Taverner scored the Watford goal and Finlay Reid replied for Langleybury.

Division Three

Chorleywood Club AFC beat relegated Dome Bar 5-2, Jordan Allen with a double alongside goals from Ebenezer Essiam, George Blanks and Deryn Fowler. Jay Haynes and Ben Kelly replied for Dome.

Surelywood and FC Railway shared the points after a 2-2 draw, James Rogers and Kyle Barnett scoring for the home side, with Callum O'Grady and Dan McKane on target for Railway.

Everett Rovers Reserves made a winning start with a 2-1 away win over Abbots Wanderers.

Goals from Finley Bousefield and Alfie Fitzpatrick secured the points, with Jack Hoggett finding the net for the home side.