Watford Sunday League: North Watford advance in Sunday Cup

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and were kept at bay by some excellent goalkeeping from Craig Garrett, but he was unable to prevent them going behind following a direct shot from a free-kick.

However, the Watford Sunday League side soon levelled when Ali Khan curled home from 20 yards out.

The home side took control in the second half and after a period of sustained pressure they went ahead for the first time when a defender put the ball into his own net.

The win was sealed late on when Khan broke from a Flaunden corner, carrying the ball all the way to the opposition box before laying it wide for Jamie Speer to slot in at the back post.

St Joseph's, who reached the quarter-finals last season, went down 2-1 at home to Ebony, with an own goal registering for the hosts.

There were two heavy away defeats for the league's other two sides in action in the first round. Cassiobury Rangers went down 8-0 to the runners-up in this competition in 2022 Highgate Albion, whilst WD Bushey Rangers suffered a 6-0 defeat to Under the Radar.

Herts Senior Cup Round One

Evergreen enjoyed a 1-0 win over Rexboxed thanks to a Tom Verbana goal from the halfway line in the first half.

Reboxed finished the game with only nine men after having two players sent off in the second period.

Action from Watford Youth Sports 1st's defeat at the hands of Forza Watford (Image: Watford Youth Sports)

Division One

This division has been very competitive so far, with just four points separating the top five clubs.

Leaders Watford Youth Sports 1st suffered a first defeat of the season when they went down 4-0 to Forza Watford, who scored early in the game before adding three further goals in the second half.

Matthew Forkin netted twice supported by further goals from Evans Owusu and Will Parkinson.

In between Watford Youth Sports and Forza Watford in the table are Everett Rovers who beat Watford Town 6-2.

Everett went ahead after 22 minutes with a goal from Lucas Roberts.

Town soon equalised when Zack Inyang turned home a Laurence Manning cross with a close-range finish, but Everett were soon back in front with two goals before the break from Regan Weiser and Jordan Standley.

Rovers added three more goals in the second half through Standley to complete a brace, Sam Waller and Emanuel Ojea, who scored with his very first touch of the game, before Watford netted a late consolation from Charlie Young.

Sparta Phoenix came out on top of a ten-goal thriller with St Joseph’s Reserves, 6-4.

Sparta built up a 4-1 lead in the first half, opening their account when Ralph Thompson’s whipped cross found Phil Clarke who scored.

A second goal soon followed when Joe Pascoulis scored with a free-kick into the top left corner and Thompson then netted two quick-fire goals to make it 4-0, but just before half-time Joes managed to pull one back.

Boosted by this, Joes netted two more early in the second half to cut the deficit to just one goal.

Thompson then completed his hat-trick to make it 5-3, before Joes replied thanks to a penalty, but the home side made sure of the win when substitute George Pascoulis scored following a counter attack.

Chess United put eight unanswered goals past CF Watford Continentals, who remain at the foot of the table after five straight defeats and have now conceded 36 goals.

Chess opened the scoring after a Waleed Malik corner was met by Tom Parry at the back post. Shortly after Daniel Jovanoski rounded the keeper and doubled the lead.

James Todd fired in the third, doubling his tally soon after when he struck from the edge of the box, before a defender turned a Waleed Malik cross into his own net to make it 5-0 at the break.

There was no let-up in the second half, with Chess scoring their sixth and seventh through Ali Shale, who missed the whole of last season through injury.

First, he lobbed the keeper and then doubled his tally when he finished well with his weaker foot.

Continentals found themselves down to ten men after one of their players was sent off for dissent, which was shortly followed by Chess’ final goal when Alex Halls hit a rocket from just outside the box.

Continentals finished the game with just nine after another player was sin-binned for dissent.

Division Two

Hertfordshire Athletic made it four wins from four with a 5-2 away victory over Watford Youth Sports 2nd.

Jack McLaughlin netted a hat-trick, supported by a brace from Henry Gibbpor. Louie Muncie replied with the two Sports goals.

Batchworth enjoyed a 3-0 home victory over Frances George, Marcus Rivers with a double and one for Harry Lord.

WD Bushey Rangers Reserves edged out Langleybury 4-3, Taylor Bates with two, alongside goals for David Flannery and Raphael Wiredu. Oliver Ilott, Dan Wilson, and Charlie Hobbs replied for Langleybury.

Inter gained a first league win of the season when they beat West Herts 3-1.

Gabrielle Casagrande netted twice supported by a goal from Chris Stead, with Brandon Whitman getting the Stags’ sole reply.

Division Three

Just seven points separate the nine teams in this division.

FC Railway are the leaders after they beat Abbots Wanderers 8-2.

Domenic Leacock and Harley Wilson both scored hat-tricks, with Callum O'Grady getting a double of his own. Jack Hoggett and Sam Breadin replied with the two Wanderers goals.

Bricket Wood Acorns ended Dome Bar’s two-match winning run with a 4-2 victory, Alex Michael claiming a brace, with Jack Micklewight and Harrison Fisher also on target. Ben Davis and Ben Kelly replied with the two Dome Bar goals.

Chorleywood Club AFC edged past AFC Watford 2-1, Felix Ansah and Deryn Fowler on target for them, with Dan Grace getting the AFC goal.

Nascot AFC gained a first win of the season after overcoming Surely Wood 2-0 thanks to goals from Sam Hardle and Matthew Henderson.

- Brian Stedman, vice-chairman of the league and a referee, has passed away after a sudden short illness.

He was involved with the league for around 50 years as both a referee and a long-standing committee member. He also served on the Herts FA for many years as well.

He will be sadly missed and as a mark of respect a minute’s silence will be held for him and his family before this Sunday’s games.