Watford Sunday League: Cassiobury Rangers county cup win

Rangers controlled the early exchanges and soon went ahead when Jon Burch played a ball to Sam Mortimer down the right wing. His cross was only cleared as far as Jamie McDougall who pulled the ball back for Taylor Osunsedo to sweep a shot into the left corner of the net.

Burch was involved again as Rangers doubled their lead. Driving out of defence after intercepting well, he found Aidan Lesslie in space 35 yards out and he took a touch before firing his shot into the top left corner.

Cassiobury let their intensity drop after that, and after giving the ball away deep in their own half, they conceded when a cross was headed home.

Wanderers pushed on from that and soon drew level when the winger cut the ball back to beat keeper Zak Green at the near post.

Cassiobury started the second half better and went back ahead when James Craggs carried the ball out of defence and laid it off to Lesslie, who again killed the ball with his first touch, and with his second struck a shot into the top left corner.

That looked like being the winner until late on when Wanderers equalised direct from a free-kick which slipped under Green.

Wheathampstead took the first penalty, but Green saved low to his left. Conor Callanan and Conor Walsh scored Rangers’ first two spot-kicks, and Wheathampstead followed up by missing their next two efforts, firing them wide off target.

It fell to Lesslie to win the shoot-out for Cassiobury, as he slotted home into the top right corner and secured a trip to Six Bells in the next round.

2023-24 Season Eric Hand Challenge Cup Quarter-Final

First Division Sparta Phoenix made Premier Division WD Bushey Rangers fight all the way before going down 4-2.

Stephen Ward gave WD the lead from the penalty spot after Dion Belle have been fouled in the area, but Sparta levelled just before the break through Floyd Thompson.

WD looked to have sealed the tie with two quick-fire goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half. First Kelvin Ramos-Martin struck with a long-range effort on his debut, then Corum Chase netted with a neat finish after Ramos-Martin’s initial attempt was blocked.

George Pascoulis scored a second for Sparta, but Ramos-Martin secured his brace with a first-time finish to seal the victory and set up a semi-final against Cassiobury Rangers.

Herts Athletic's tie with St Joseph's Reserves caught fire in the second half (Image: Herts Athletic)

2023-24 Season Denis Jackson Intermediate Cup Quarter-Final

Second Division Hertfordshire Athletic caused a minor upset when they defeated First Division St Joseph’s Reserves 5-4.

In a bizarre game the first half ended goalless, but Athletic scored three quick-fire goals at the start of the second period.

Cory Sayers struck the first with a shot that found its way into the far top corner. A second followed when Ed Rogers was tripped for a penalty which Jack McLaughlin converted and the same player netted the third when he converted a Henry Gibbor cross from a counter-attack.

Joes Reserves pulled one back with a header from a corner by Oscar Evans. Athletic then missed a chance from the penalty spot when Evan King blazed over but a fourth goal did follow when a corner was flicked on by Evan King and Chris Frater nodded in at the back post.

Joes stayed in the tie when they scored on the counter attack through Ewan Tocher, only for James Hicks to chip home to make it 5-2.

Joes then pulled themselves back into the game once again with two late goals, both from corners, through Joe Tearle and Dillon Hemington.

Athletic will face Watford Youth Sport 1st in the semi-final for the right to take on the winners of the FC Railway versus Chorleywood Club AFC tie for the trophy.

Premier Division

Evergreen moved to the top of the division in what is now just a six-team top flight after SOCA folded in the past week, defeating Chalfont Saints 4-3 following an end-to-end game.

Rahul Pau gave Evergreen the lead when he slotted past the Saints keeper, but the home side soon hit back with two goals from Jake Rodger.

Evergreen drew level before the break though, when Steve Wilson volleyed home following a melee at a corner.

They went in front after the interval when good work on the wing saw Sam Robins knock the ball home at the second attempt after his first effort was blocked.

Kyle Rimmer latched on to a corner that fell to the edge of the 18-yard box with a strike to give Evergreen a two-goal lead, but Saints never gave up and pulled another goal back from Finn Wilson.

Division One

Everett Rovers reached the summit of the table after a 4-1 win over CF Watford Continentals, who within a few hours of the game ending indicated they would be resigning from the league.

Two goals either side of half-time were enough to take the points, with Jordan Standley, Raphael de Souza and a brace from Terry Wasswa all registering.

Alex Bushnell scored the Continentals consolation goal.

Forza Watford are in second place, level on points with Everett, after they beat Chess United 5-2.

The home side scored twice early on before Chess pulled a goal back from Sam Blackwood, but in the end the home side proved too strong for United, who netted a late consolation through Alfie Hewetson.

Matthew Forkin scored a hat-trick for Forza, supported by goals from Harley Sells and Connor Powell.

The game between Watford United and Old Fullerians ended in a 3-3 draw.

Fullerians went ahead midway through the first half when Craig Totton slid a ball through for Chris Colman to latch onto, he calmly rounded the keeper before squaring for Jake Entwistle to convert.

The home side hit back before the break when Mayvin Vigneswaran broke through and fired past the keeper.

Fullerians took the lead once again midway through the second half, Colman picking up the ball on the right after good work from James Rose and exchanging passes with Joe Rylett before unleashing a left-footed strike into the top right corner.

But United then struck back with two goals, one from Vigneswaran to complete his brace, and the other through Adam Anwar.

Deep into added-on time, a long ball forward from Chris Munroe was met by the advancing Charlie Munroe who headed over the stranded keeper to earn Fullerians a point.

Division Two

Leaders Woodside beat West Herts 7-1, Josh Towle netting a hat-trick, supported by goals from George Fairey, Tyrone Brandy, Ellis Constantinou and an own goal.

Paul Shelock netted the Stags’ consolation.

WD Bushey Rangers Reserves moved into third place after they won a nine-goal thriller against Batchworth 5-4.

Sabir Noor hit a hat-trick for the home side, alongside goals from Jason Iheanacho and Raphael Wiredu.

Marcus Rivers was also on target with a treble for Batchworth, with Sam Hollis scoring the other.

Langleybury beat Frances George 4-2 thanks to a Rob Bennett double, supported by a Dan Wilson goal and an own goal.

Tom Minton and Dexter Franklin-Beck replied for George who remain bottom of the table with five defeats from their opening five games.

Inter made it back-to-back 3-1 away wins after overcoming Watford Youth Sports 2nd.

Ajay Vasanthakumar, Chris Stead and Gabriel Casagrande got the Inter goals, with Lewis Blood replying for the home side.

Division Three

A Jack Micklewright goal was enough to put Bricket Wood Acorns top of the table after beating Abbots Wanderers 1-0 as second-placed Everett Rovers Reserves drew 1-1 with Dome Bar, Finley Bousefield and Jay Hyanes with the goals for each side.

Chorleywood Club AFC beat FC Railway 2-1, Joe Berzins and Emmanuel Manzan netting for the home side with Harley Wilson replying for Railway.

AFC Watford edged past Nascot AFC 3-2.

Goals from Evan Quinn, Tommy Edwards and Peter Rock were enough to give AFC a second three points of the season.

Graham Melsome scored a double for Nascot in reply.