Watford Sunday League: Evergreen and St Joseph's county cup wins

The victors had a dream start when they went ahead after just ten minutes, Tom Verbana following up Max Sahota’s shot which the keeper failed to hold onto.

After half-an-hour a defensive mix-up allowed Jake Sahota through and he went round the keeper to make it 2-0.

The win was sealed in the second half with three more goals, the third coming on the hour mark when Jake Sahota dinked the ball home to score his second.

Jamie Robertson netted the fourth when he headed in a deflected cross 15 minutes from time, before Shay Mehta played the ball through for Jake Sahota to complete his hat-trick.

Evergreen now travel to Phoenix for a place in the quarter-final.

St Joseph’s, the winners in 2022 and 2023, needed a penalty shoot-out to put out fellow Watford Sunday League side WD Bushey Rangers 3-2 after a 0-0 draw.

This result means that Joes have defeated the winners and the runners-up from last season’s competition in the first two rounds in this campaign.

Lewis Everett was the man of the match for Joes as he saved a penalty in the first half, before saving three more in the shoot-out as his side progressed thanks to converted kicks from Owen Ayres, Harry Seabrook and Owen Deamer.

Their reward is an away tie at Brewster Plumbing of the Berkhamsted Sunday League, the current holders of the Intermediate Cup.

Cassiobury Rangers’ hopes were ended by Six Bells Sunday as they went down to a 4-0 away defeat.

Herts Junior Cup Second Round

Like their first team, WD Bushey Rangers Reserves also went out of a Herts County Cup in a shoot-out after a 1-1 draw against East Herts.

Sabir Noor netted the goal for Rangers but they were knocked out 4-2 on penalties.

Chairman’s Cup - Sponsored by Nine4Nora - First Round

First Division Chess United put out Premier Division Chalfont Saints after a seven-goal thriller 4-3, having come from 2-0 and 3-1 down to progress through.

Saints started well, taking a two-goal lead through Barney Robertson and Sean Haugh before Chess pulled a goal back just before the break when Conrad Thorpe found space on the edge of the box and fired home.

George Kite restored Saints’ two-goal advantage early in the second half with a well-taken effort from the edge of the area, but their opponents soon responded when Daniel Jovanoski tackled and scored in the same motion.

Chess then levelled when Ali Shale was shoved over in the box and he stepped up to convert the penalty.

With the game heading towards a penalty shoot-out, both teams had chances to seal the win but there was one final twist when Chess’ Sam Blackwood was fouled just inside the box. Blackwood himself stepped up to convert the spot-kick to complete the comeback victory.

It was a far more straightforward affair for Everett Rovers as they defeated fellow First Division outfit St Joseph’s Reserves 3-0.

Rovers had the better of the first half but only had a one-goal advantage at the break through a goal from Raphael De Souza.

Everett created the better chances in the second period and were rewarded with a further two goals through Jordan Standley and Lucas Roberts.

Division One

Leaders Forza Watford were held to a 3-3 draw by Watford Town, and indeed they were lucky to come way with a point after equalising with the last kick of the game.

Town started well and went ahead after ten minutes when Charlie Young laid the ball off to Alex Diaz on the edge of the box and he curled a finish into the corner.

The lead was quickly doubled after Cassian Lee set up Charlie Young.

In the second half Forza battled back and scored two, one being a penalty to equalise.

Town slotted home a penalty of their own from Alex Diaz only for Forza to level with the last kick of the game from a corner.

Greg Bishop, Will Parkinson and Clayton Blake scored the Forza goals.

Sparta Phoenix gained a second league victory of the season with a 7-2 win over Watford United.

Sam Groves scored the only goal in the first half for Sparta before the floodgates opened in the second 45 minutes.

Philippe Clarke quickly added two more strikes to extend their lead and George Pascoulis and Groves followed up with two further quick-fire goals.

United managed to pull one back thanks to Mayvin Vigneswaran but Sparta’s dominance continued as Joey Pascoulis found the net again.

Despite Watford converting a late penalty from Nitharshan Sellathura, George Pascoulis sealed the victory with his second of the game.

Hertfordshire Athletic scored four goals in the last 20 minutes in their victory over Frances George (Image: Zara Jordan)

Division Two

The race for the title already looks to be between Woodside and Hertfordshire Athletic.

Woodside continue to hold a three-point lead over their closest rivals, who have two games in hand, after both sides enjoyed healthy home wins.

Woodside beat Watford Youth Sports 2nd 4-2, Josh Towle and Andre Federico both scoring twice for the victors, with Liam Rawsthorne and Zain Chaudey replying for the away side.

Athletic swept past Frances George 5-0.

George set out with a game plan to sit deep and defend and this was working until minutes before the break when Henry Gibbor played in Ed Rogers out wide and he scored into the far corner with the help of a double deflection.

Athletic then had to be patient until the goals flowed in the final 20 

In the second half the goals flowed in the final 20 minutes. First Max Davies’ dribble set up Rogers to score his second of the game. Gibbor then pounced on a loose ball in the box following a corner to drill a finish into the far corner.

It was then 4-0 when Davies made an excellent run before having his shot saved but Gibbor pounced on the rebound.

The fifth goal came when Evan King threaded a pass through the George defence for Gibbor to round the keeper and complete his hat-trick with the final kick of the game.

Inter, who had a dreadful start to the season by losing their opening three games and conceding 15 goals in the process, made it four wins on the bounce following a 3-2 victory over West Herts to take them into third place in the table.

Chris Stead, Gabrielle Casagrande and Conor Mason netted for Inter, with Brando Whitman and Roscoe Tebbs scoring for the Stags who have lost their first five matches.

Division Three

Only three points separate the top three teams in the division after all three won.

Leaders FC Railway defeated Nascot AFC 4-2, Domenic Leacock, Dan McKane, Harley Wilson and Tom Coleman scoring for the Railwaymen, with Nazir Dogan and Lewis Speakman replying for the home side.

Bricket Wood Acorns beat Everett Rovers Reserves thanks to a solitary Charlie Buss goal, whilst Chorleywood Club AFC overcame Surely Wood 3-1 thanks to a brace from Michael East and a goal from Joe Berzins. Kyle Barnett netted the Wood consolation effort.

The other game between Abbots Wanderers and AFC Watford ended in a 3-3 draw, Jake Mepham netting twice alongside a goal from Josh Felton for Abbots, with Tommy Edwards, Jordan Stagg and Peter Rock replying.