Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup Round Two

It was a successful morning for the Watford Sunday League as five teams advanced to the third round, with three winning at clubs from outside the league.

FC Unicorn’s fine start to the season continued after a 5-3 win over Hemel Hempstead-based GB Precision but they needed extra-time to do so in a game played in heavy rain.

The visitors found themselves a goal down early on when they failed to clear a cross and the ball was tucked away.

However, Unicorn levelled within 10 minutes when Luke Peerless’s 25-yard free-kick found the back of the net after he whipped the ball over the wall and into the top corner.

More Unicorn pressure paid off as good work between Sheldon Berkeley and Jamie Calvin saw the latter cut the ball back for Jamie Balmer to fire home from 10 yards.

Unfortunately for Unicorn though, the lead lasted no more than 10 minutes when a GB corner was headed onto the post, only for it to rebound back into the net off a home player to leave the scores level at the break.

Unicorn retook the lead in the second half when Louis Soper whipped in a fine ball for Calvin to guide an effort into the net.

But once again, their advantage didn’t last long when a headed clearance was met by a GB midfielder, who took a touch and fired the into the bottom corner.

After a late scare for the visitors when GB had a goal disallowed for a push in the box, extra-time was played in heavy conditions with the rain taking a mounting toll on the pitch.

Unicorn started the stronger though, and kept up the pressure, controlling the game in the first half but failing to take their chances.

That pressure finally paid off at the start of the second period when Peerless’ drilled ball was brought down by Calvin who slipped in Callum O’Connor to score.

The victory was wrapped up with six minutes to go when Calvin picked up a loose ball from a Peerless corner to fire the ball into the bottom corner.

Last season’s Junior Cup winners Everett Rovers are on the march once more in County Cup competition as they enjoyed a 5-2 win at The Markyate Swans.

With both sides finding the surface a bit tricky, Everett took the lead after 10 minutes with Luke Preedy finishing from close range.

Rovers continued to keep the ball well and another good passing move ended with Reece Cameron scoring a second from 20 yards.

The second half started in much the same fashion with Jake Knight skipping past the Markyate defence to make it 3-0.

Knight scored his second a few minutes later for a 4-0 lead before Markyate netted their first.

The visitors were to score again but not before Knight had completed his hat-trick.

Bushey Sports Club had a long trip to Welwyn Garden City but hit double figures as they thumped Welwyn Garden United 10-4.

A hat-trick from Rob Gradwell, two apiece for Dan Branch, Hassan Zeizale and Tom Mcguiness and one from Sean White secured an easy victory.

Welwyn scored three late goals as several Bushey players needed to leave before the end due to the long journey and work commitments. However, the outcome was never in doubt as the visitors led 10-1 at the time.

Langleybury CC enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Woodhall Wanderers.

The cricket club side dominated the game and should have won the tie by a far larger margin than two goals, but that was due largely to the visitors’ keeper who pulled off some amazing saves throughout the game.

Robbie Edgar, with a brace, and a goal each for Jamie Madden and Matt Honey were the men on target with the Langleybury keeper having little to do but pick the ball out of the net twice.

AFC Bedmond won the only all WSL-tie as they edged past FC Woodside 2-1 after all the goals came in the first half.

Sam Hakner gave Bedmond an early lead before Drew Snailham levelled the scores. The game was decided by a penalty converted by Tommy Twelves on the stroke of half-time.

The only WSL side to bow out was Ripstone, who suffered a 6-0 defeat at Jam United.

Middlesex Junior Cup Round One

Northwood beat Ruislip Rovers 4-0 in a replay of a game which was abandoned to a serious injury.

Craig Mathieson, Luke Jerome, Shaun Wheeler and Charlie Malin scored the goals.

Terry Devereux President’s Cup Group B

Winners for the past two seasons, Oakview had an easy 5-1 victory over Old Fullerians.

Lewis Putman and new signing Chris Blunden scored two goals each and Finlay O'Reilly got the other. Charlie Munroe scored Fullers’ consolation.

Junior Cup Round Two

Hews and White Horse shared six goals after extra-time before the home side won the penalty shoot-out 3-2.

Hews had Chris Herbert, Nathan Pooley and Alex Gilmaney on target with Floyd Thompson striking a hat-trick for their opponents.

The home side’s penalties were converted by Gilmaney, Adam Finn with Andrew Noonan slotting home the winning spot-kick.

Skyline and SOCA scored nine goals between them with the home winning through 5-4 after extra-time.

Adam Lincoln, Sam Marskel, Jordan Austin, Dylan Stewart and Charlie Kimpton were on target for the victors, with SOCA replying through a Bradley Bridges brace and singles from Michael White and Shaun Marshall.

Oxhey Athletic bounced back from drawing a blank the previous weekend with a 6-0 win over Inter.

Conor Murphy led the way with a hat-trick and Liam Hanley, Joey Barton and Abbas Khan also found the back of the net.

Luke Everitt scored both goals as Hertfordshire Harriers beat Sun Postal Sports 2-0.

Division Three

AFC Leavesden beat Batchworth 13-0 who could only field nine players for the second week running.

Callum Woolnough opened the scoring with a header and this was followed by a strike from Luke Verlander from just inside the 18-yard box. Alex Diaz added a third with a penalty and then scored another just before half-time.

Diaz added two more after the break as Ryan Murphy also got among the goals, netting four in the second half.

Kyle Clifford, Callum Galvin and Ozzie Ogbebor also netted one apiece to round off an easy one.