Division Two of the Herts Advertiser Sunday Football league stole the headlines with a first and a fine individual performance.

Matt Brand stole the show with five goals as St Albans Royals completed the double over The Ridge win a 9-3 win on Sunday.

Brand’s quintet of strikes was backed up by one each from Michael Alexander, who was also praised for pulling the strings, Ellis Anderson-Grant, Chris Hill and Toby Smith.

The first ever Village derby between Wheathampstead ‘89 and Wheathampstead Swan [dubbed ‘El Villago’ by some in the office - editor] ended all square at 1-1.

It was the Swan that took the lead with their first attack.

Ten minutes later Lee Bennett levelled following a fine save by the Swan keeper Jordan Mould.

Premier Division New Jacks were given an almighty scare by Division Two side Brookmans Park Reserves in the Knockout Cup before finally coming through 5-4 on penalties.

It was an out of character and under-par performance by Jacks who were 3-1 down by half-time.

Joe Cullum, Henry Chapman and Danny Clarke put Park in charge but Jacks came back into it after the break, forcing extra-time thanks to goals from George Dale and Dan Marsh.

However, neither side could find the breakthrough in the extra period with the Park keeper in top form.

Both sides looked composed throughout the shootout but it was Dale who made himself the hero with the winning strike.

In the Challenge Cup, Stonewood picked up their second Premier Division scalp after beating AFC Rangers.

Derren Thompson scored the only goal in the 1-0 win.

Pinewood were too strong for Brookmans Park ‘A’ winning 4-0 in their Intermediate Cup tie.

Alsop (two), Orchard and Pegram grabbed the goals.

In the Premier Division, both Blacksmiths Arms and Six Bells tried to play football in very blustery conditions but it was Bells who came out on top with a 2-0 win.

Jack Massey put them in front from the spot after Ryan Houghton was brought down, and it was Houghton himself who completed the win in the second half.

There were plenty of games in division three with most notable result coming as Queens Head triumphed 7-3 against Brookmans Park.

Jason Slough got two with Tom Li, Khalid Ismail, Jack Faulder, Greg White and an own goal on the scoresheet for Queens.

Craig Clarke, Luke Watling, Callum Baylis scored for Park.

Goals from Michael Coffer and Darren O’Brien, plus an outstanding performance by Billy Rolland, helped Facelad to a 2-0 win against Chequers Inn.

Harpenden Colts OB recorded their second league win of the season with a 3-2 success against Camp Victorian.

Nigel Broadhurst, Alex Dennehy and Chris Newcombe scored for Colts with David Sandiford and Ben White on target for Camp.

The same score saw Cannon fall to George Redbourn.

Cannon’s goals came from Josh Humage and Ben Starnees.

In Division Four, Royston Rangers and The Mill went in at the break at one goal apiece and with all to play for.

But it was Rangers who found their rhythm in the second half, scoring six more for an eventual 7-2 win.

Dom Lynch claimed a hat-trick and Kevin Donovan a brace. Dan Gillians and Jamie Turner completed the scoring.

Marshalswick Rovers drew 1-1 with AFC Mymms in a tight game.

Dave Hudson scored midway through the second half for Rovers and looked to have won the points.

However, Mymms equalised with the last kick of the game, depriving 54-year-old club secretary and stand-in keeper Gary Hitchen a clean sheet on his debut in goal.

Gary Farrow scored his third treble of the season for White Horse in a 7-3 win against Vision.

Man-of-the-match James Sears also scored two and there was singles for Mark Farmer and Ryan Rickard.

In contrast Jack Nevin’s three goals was his first hat-trick of the season.

But they were enough to give Athletico Quat a 4-2 win against CHL.

Sam Nevin was their other marksman with CHL’s goals coming from Daler Bhaker and Robert Jackson.

League leaders Stonewood Res were involved in another high scoring game, beating Phoenix ‘A’ 6-5.

Tom Mardle (two), Ryan Smith, Reedan Pearce, Daniel Hedges and Ashley Howard got their goals.

Results

November 29

Herts FA Sunday Senior Cup Round 3:

AFC Boars 1 Nicholas Breakspear OB 2. Knockout Cup Round 2: New Jacks 3 Brookmans Park Res 3 (5-4 penalties).

Challenge Cup Round 2:

Stonewood 1 AFC Rangers 0.

Intermediate Cup Round 3:

Pinewood 4 Brookmans Park ‘A’ 0.

Premier Division:

Six Bells 2 Blacksmiths Arms 0.

Division One:

Brookmans Park 3 Queens Head 7, Chequers Inn 0 Facelad 2.

Division Two:

Oaks 1 Harpenden Rovers Blue 3, Phoenix Res 5 Primary Care 5, The Ridge 3 St Albans Royals 9, Wheathampstead ‘89 1 Wheathampstead Swan 1.

Division Three:

George Redbourn 3 Cannon 2, Harpenden Colts OB 3 Camp Victorians 2, The Snug Bar 3 Blackboy1.

Division Four:

CHL 2 Athletico Quat 4, Marshalswick 1 AFC Mymms 1, Phoenix ‘A’ 5 Stonewood Res 6,The Mill 2 Royston Rangers 7, Vision 3 White Horse 7.

Fixtures

December 6

Herts FA Sunday Junior Cup Round 4:

Niranki Heath City v Tansley (Radlett Village), Cannon v The Snug Bar, NBOB Res v Aspire Personnel Trainer, Camp Victorians v Ardent.

Intermediate Cup Round 3:

AFC Mymms v St Albans Rangers, Harpenden Colts OB v Wheathampstead Swan, Marshalswick v Phoenix Res.

Premier Division:

AFC Rangers v Skew, Blacksmiths Arms v Nicholas Breakspear, Phoenix v New.

Division One:

Brookmans Park v Chequers Inn, Facelad v Church End, Queens Head v Garston, Skew Bridge Reserves v Stonewood.

Division Two:

Brookmans Park Res v Harpenden Rovers Blue, The Ridge v Oaks, Wheathampstead ‘89 v Primary Care.

Division Three:

George Redbourn v Queens Head Res.

Division Four:

Royston Rangers v Athletico Quat, Stonewood Res v Cannon Res, The Mill v Pinewood, Vision v CHL, White Horse v Brookmans Park ‘A’.