Watford Sunday League round-up

Carefree Athletic will now be concentrating on promotion to Division Two after going down 2-0 to Bedwell Rangers in a hard-fought county final.

Despite falling behind, Carefree were always in the contest until their challenge was ended by a late second goal.

Athletic’s defeat leaves the WSFL without any of the three Herts trophies their sides won last season.

WSFL Intermediate Cup Final

The Artichoke (Croxley) found the right time to hit some form with a convincing 6-1 win over United to retain the cup at Oxhey Jets Stadium.

After a shaky first ten minutes, leading scorer Andy Avis managed to get through the defence to score his first of the game.

Manager Scott Parker then demanded a strong ten minutes and just a minute after the restart some great wing play by Robbie Martin found man-of-the match Will Wilson to slot home the second.

United started to put pressure on the Artichoke defence, but some great handling from keeper Ian Lightley and dogged defending by captain Ben Irwin and veteran Kevin Hoare kept the pacey strikers at bay.

But the Artichoke forwards were starting to win their battles and a bullet header from midfielder Arron Davis from a corner effectively made the game safe, particularly after Robbie Martin made it 4-0 just before the break.

United came out strong in the second half but good defending and goalkeeping again kept them out until a lapse of concentration let them in to score.

Artichoke brought on Ben Smith and striker Darren Lancaster to freshen things up and it worked. From a corner the ball came out to Jake Smith, who used his trusty left foot to scuff a shot into the net.

To their credit, United kept going, but following some good work from substitute Stevie Barton, hot-shot Avis was able to score his second of the game.

Premier Division

League-leaders Oakview had a comfortable 7-1 win over West Herts, but the basement club still emerged from their heavy defeat with credit.

The Stags could only muster eight men for their final clash in the top division for a while after their team was decimated by injury, holidays and work commitments, but they put up a good fight, scored a terrific goal through Sam Saleh and somehow managed to keep the scoreline to single figures through sheer hard work.

Oakview’s leading scorers Lee Armitt (3) and Adam Lowton (2) got the lion’s share of the goals, while Ben Alexander and Shaun Murphy got one apeice.

St Josephs are making a fight of it for after easily defeating Hammer OGB 4-0 although, trailing Oakview by four points and with three games left for each side, they look likely to finish second.

Bushey are hot on the trail of St Joes after a 3-0 win against Ocusta, who themselves must win their two remaining matches to have any hope of staying up. Scorers for Bushey were Jamie Brown, Joe da Silva and Donovane Lewis.

Oxhey Estates did all they possible could to try to avoid relegation with a 4-1 away victory at Victoria Vampires.

Luke Lloyd, Tom Byron, Johnny McGeachey and Chris Killer got the all-important goals but their fate will be decided once Ocusta have finished their season. Rhys Williams scored for the Vamps.

Division One

Carpenders Park Rangers were pushed all the way when Dewhurst Guild held out for a gutsy point against the table toppers and, with a bit of luck, could have taken all three.

Dewhurst started brightly, with Leroy Odle and Thomas Hughes going close, but went behind when Tom Horton fired in from 20 yards.

However, Guild never gave up and Karim Jan Fali lobbed the keeper from 30 yards for the equaliser before Kevin Mackie should have netted the winner in the closing stages, only to miss an open goal with a diving header.

Second-placed Mill End Sports won against Watford Irish by a solitary Mark Brownsell goal to give them some breathing space over a cluster of clubs, including WSFL final winners The Artichoke.

Division Two

Met Police (Bushey) are now only two points away from winning the Division Two title following a terrific second-half performance against title rivals The Crescent Club.

In a first half of few chances and several bookings, Crescent took the lead on the stroke of half-time with a well-taken Tyler Connor header from a corner.

But their opponents produced a performance that showed why they have been top of the league most of the season after the break and on the hour Richard Taylor was put through one-on-one with the keeper and there was only going to be one result as he slotted home his 31st of the campaign.

The game’s defining moment came with ten minutes to play when Stephen Killeen curled home a trademark free-kick from 35 yards.

Met sealed the three points in injury time when the broke and Ricky Gill coolly slotted home.

The result means Crescent need a minimum of six points from their remaining three games to pip both Europcar and Sun Postal Sports to the coveted second place.

Europcar ended their league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory and first clean sheet of the season as they overcame strugglers Glendale.

Chris Walker gave the hosts the lead on 30 minutes when he scored a rare header but despite dominating the match, their second didn't come until 15 minutes from time when Matt White's superb pass found Glen Brown, who made no mistake.

It was Chris Coleman though, who scored the goal of the game when he rounded the keeper after beginning a mazy run from the halfway line to leave his side sweating on a possible promotion that is now down to the efforts of the other sides involved.

A high-scoring match finished with Sun Postal Sports, who are in the shake up, win by the odd goal in seven against Hammer OGB Reserves.

The prolific scoring Hakner brothers helped themselves to the goals, with Louis getting yet another hat-trick, and Sam netting the other. Perry Byrne, Alan Dunton and Gary Wickes replied for Hammer.

Division Three

Leaders by eight points, AFC Spartians must think it is all over bar the shouting after a 4-1 away to AFC Bushey.

Their goal was scored by Ryan Turnbull but for the second week running Spartians failed to supply the league with details of who netted for them.

Croxley RBL took important points from a double header against Dome Bar Rangers, winning a close first match 3-2, while the second ended 1-1.

Regular scorers were in an abundance in these games, with Michael East, Glen O’Malley and Jamie Webb for the victors and Angelo Napolitano twice for Rangers. The second encounter saw another O’Malley effort cancelled out by Pietro Rojo.

County finalists Carefree still have three matches to play and should collect the second place to improve their position for the other promotion spot.

Watford Irish Reserves and Railway Arms fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw, a result which did little to improve either side’s position. Ritchie Barnes, Darren Buckley and Sergei Jakovlev scored for the Irish but there were no scorers’ details from their opponents.

Division Four

As confirmed the previous week, Oxhey Jets Vets are the first team to become champions in the league this season and they won 3-1 away to Green Dragon Reserves.

Lewis Putnam scored twice and Nick Debenham also netted and Vets will now be aiming to remain unbeaten for the season after their final two games, a feat only Oakview and Carpenders Park Rangers can also achieve.

Oxhey Estates Reserves had a huge six-pointer result over second-placed Shenley Dynamos by 2-0 and overtook them in the process to finish runners up to the Vets.

With the game goalless and the second spot heading Shenley’s way, Estates’ management duo of Dani Gladdy and Dan Perks made an inspired tactical switch, moving lofty centre-half Charlie Sheward into attack 15 minutes from time.

The change yielded virtually instant dividends when Sheward volleyed home and promotion was effectively sealed soon after when influential midfielder Carl Wigg latched on to a cross from captain Matty Leonard to spark wild scenes of celebrations.

Shenley were given a glimmer of hope when Ben Chandler inexplicably headed into his own net in the dying moments, but their fightback proven to be in vain.

A bad day for the West Herts sides was completed when West Herts Social finished bottom of the league following an 8-1 home defeat by The Pavillion.

Hat-trick hitting Craig Bartlett, two-goal Oliver Brinton, Ryan King, Joe Marsh and Peter Staniford all found the net, while Ian Geddes netted Social’s consolation.