The district has a new semi-professional football club – and their first competitive game resulted in a sensational 10-0 win.

Herts Advertiser: AFC Oaklands v TottenhallAFC Oaklands v Tottenhall (Image: Archant)

AFC Oaklands are part of the EDSV Academy, based out of Oaklands College.

The academy allows a select group of players, aged between 16 and 19, to train full time while still continuing their academic studies.

Due to the lack of opportunities for players of that age who are capable of playing semi-professionally, Billy Highton, who runs the academy alongside Academy director Chris Watters, created AFC to provide players, both past and present, with that pathway.

From next season they will take part in the Herts

Herts Advertiser: AFC Oaklands v TottenhallAFC Oaklands v Tottenhall (Image: Archant)

But first they have been entered in the U23 County Cup, run with a four-team group stage to start, with the top two making the semi-finals.

And the first game in the group stage saw AFC defeat Tottenhall FC 10-0.

Walsh got Oaklands’ first goal from the penalty spot after 11 minutes and scored the pick of his side’s goals with a left-foot volley late in the second half.

Robinson and Humberstone also scored twice with Baylis, Marwaha, Thomas and Nagheeb also on target.

Herts Advertiser: AFC Oaklands v TottenhallAFC Oaklands v Tottenhall (Image: Archant)

Highton said: “We are not here to make up numbers. I want to win the competition and set a precedent to the other clubs; I want to prove that we are a force to be reckoned with.

“I was very happy with the result as I asked the boys to do as much damage as they could.

“It seems mad to say on the back of a 10-0 victory that I feel we could have performed better, but we could have.

“We could have shifted the ball quicker at times and retained possession higher up the pitch but that is the level of expectations I set for the boys and they know that.

“I know what they are capable of and to be honest I don’t think we got out of second gear.

“Hertford should be more of a test for the boys as we won’t have the comforts of our home scenery or the luxury of the surface we play on.

“But as I said these boys are capable to deal with that and we move on to next week in a very positive mood.”

That next fiture is away at Hertford this Saturday.

Want to join EDSV Academy? Register your place at their upcoming trial on May 31 at www.edsvacademy.com