Hat-trick for Martin as Oaks come close to a stunning fightback

Division One

Six Bells dominated the first half against high-riding Oaks with Martin Gentleman taking advantage of some poor defending to score his second hat-trick of the season.

The second half saw Six Bells increase their scoreline when Zack Wallace made it 4-0 with a well taken goal. Oaks then decided to play some of their best football of the game, reducing the deficit with three goals through their Man of the Match Harry Hunt (two) and Haydn Williams. Six Bells hung on for a final scoreline of 4-3 and all three points.

Queens Head Sandridge started the year with a valuable 4-3 win against Blackberry Jack. The day started the usual way with a couple of players dropping out. Two goals apiece from Tommy Esom and veteran striker Adam Parker sealed the win.

Herts Sunday Cup

Verulam Arms had to rely on a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win after a 2-2 score after extra-time against Flamstead End. A Man of the Match performance from Joe Margerrison plus goals from Lars Burkhardt and Luke O’Malley edged Arms into the next round.

Nicholas Breakspear OB recorded a fine 3-0 victory against Comets with goals from James Juggins (two) and Josh Humbert. Sam Clarke was outstanding for Breakspear

Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup

Brookmans Park were on the wrong side of an 11-goal thriller, losing 6-5 to a last-minute Rosemill winner. Leading 1-0, 2-1 and 5-4, Park should have won but lapses at the back let their opponents in at crucial times. Danny Webb scored a hat-trick, Danny Clifton and Jon Edmonds were also on target.

Herts Sunday Junior Cup

St Albans IFC moved into the quarter finals with a 3-1 win against Real Herts. IFC opened scoring when Christy Torrens fired home. Real Herts equalised before Callum Fowler put IFC ahead from the penalty spot. Jason Nicolaou sealed the win late on.

Herts Advertiser Knockout Cup

Harpenden Arms’ Andy Findlay opened the scoring with a 20-yard shot only for Vision to level before the break. Vision went 2-1 up before Toby Ashcroft put Arms level 10 minutes from time after a great run by Man of the Match Tom Collin. Arms took control in extra-time and scored two more as Findlay completed his hat-trick.

Victoria were always on the back foot against Premier Division Skew Bridge and did well to keep the score to 7-0. Two goals apiece from Ed Frost and Ben Warren, plus singles by Nathan Dawes, James Hardy and Mark Hitchcock completed the tally.

Herts Advertiser Intermediate Cup

Herts Athletic won their second round tie with a fine performance to defeat Harpenden Colts OB 3-2. Colts OB took the lead through Cheng He, only to squander the advantage by half-time as Herts Athletic twice prised open the Old Boys defence to lead 2-1.

Colts’ Man of the Match, Cheng, scored his second to level, but within minutes Athletic edged ahead again. Athletic’s goals came from Sean Trollope, Scott Dalton and Chris Wilding. Darren Foster was the star player in goal, pulling off some excellent saves to keep the Old Boys out.

Goals from Phil Walsby, his first of the season, and Andy Crump saw AFC Mymms defeat Raiders Utd 2-0.

Colney Heath Rangers continued their good form with a hard-fought 3-0 extra-time victory over Church End. In extra time tiredness started setting in and Adam Vennard opened the scoring with a 30-yard strike which hit both posts before going in. The lead was doubled as Sajjad Rezaei Khuy finished from close range from Lee Brinkley’s corner. With both teams enjoying good chances in the second period of extra time it was left to James Booth to seal the victory with a header from an Adam Franklin cross.

Herts Advertiser Junior Cup

Ross Ypey and Dave Beattie gave White Horse a 2-0 win against Radlett Village.

Premier Division

London Road did the double over Phoenix in a 4-1 scoreline. Goals came from Matt Newman (two), Winston Taylor and Matt Tillbroook. Liam Addlesee replied.

Division Two

The Skew Bridge Res were slow to start and second to most balls so it was little surprise when Insurance Store took the lead with a far-post header. Skew virtually dominated from then on until the final 10 minutes when Insurance Store raised their game as they pushed for an equaliser. Skew were superb going forward as they won possession with a lot of good play coming down the left through Dan Rhodes and James Elliot.

The strong running of Adam Facer saw him break through regularly. James Elliot had a header cleared off the line but he was not to be denied and equalised. Facer regained the lead when he broke down the left before cutting inside and firing into the bottom corner. Skew should have made sure of the game only for the keeper to save well from Simon Beazley’s penalty, but still won 2-1.

Phoenix Res took a deserved 3-1 lead at half-time thanks to a hat-trick from Mark Johnson against PSV but the village side battled back after the break to take a share of the spoils with goals from Craig Taylor, Tom Herd and Greg Deacon.

Beaver Travel took their third point from Herts Mauritian in a hard 2-0 win. Goals came from Ish Omar and Dan Lovett.

Division Three

Precision kicked off the new year with a comfortable 2-0 win against Brookmans Park Res. From the first whistle Jack Woods and Dean Thompson took control of the game, Thompson curled in a trademark free-kick for Matt Day to head past the Brookmans Park keeper. The Seeds’ second came from an excellent passing move started and finished by Lee Fellowes. Kelvin Caines made sure he was not going to lose the clean sheet bonus with an impressive display in goal.

Nicholas Breakspear OB Res edged home 3-2 against Wheathampstead ’89 with goals from Ben Haines, James Wheeler and Man of the Match Ryan Hearne. Lee Bennett netted both Wheathampstead’s goals.

Goals by Jack Stevens, Ian McCarthy and Man of the Match Chris Jell could not save Colney Heath Rangers Res going down 6-3 against Old Albanians.

Division Four

Cottonmill and Marshalswick Rovers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. New signing Shane Devine and Lee Sturgess scored for the Mill. Rovers’ goals came from Man of the Match Ian Taylor and Rafael Velasco.

In a game of few chances, Oaks Res made the most of theirs, winning 3-1 against Marquis of Granby with goals from Man of the Match James Dobinson, Stephen Conroy, (with his 20th of the season) and Chris Gunning. The Marquis goal came from Martin Smith. Tom Coates was their Man of the Match.

Brookmans Park A fought out an exciting 3-3 draw with The Ridge with goals from 51-year-old Alan Young, a screamer from Ollie Thomas and a last-minute penalty from Mike Donkin. The Ridge goals came from Chris Draddy, Mark Savory and William Unite.

Division Five

Camp KBK exploded out of the blocks and were 2-0 up in 10 minutes against Greenwood Park with goals from Matt Farmer starting up front and Ritchie Jones, with Jack Crawford having a big hand in both goals. However, Camp eased up and Greenwood got into the game and deservedly pulled a goal back before half time. Greenwood had a better start to the second half and drew level with a deflected free-kick which the Greenwood scorer knew little about. Camp regained the lead following a long clearance rounded off by Dean Jones, but Greenwood continued to create chances and a well-taken third goal from a throw-in pulled them level. Both teams went for the winner, but the draw was probably a fair result.

Sam Smith’s long-range shot opened the scoring for Athletico Quat, before Bricket Wood equalised against the run of play through Michael Hames. A second goal from midfielder Sam Smith edged the Quat ahead, before Ashley Clifford’s double secured a deserved 4-1 win.

In an 11-goal thriller, George Redbourn came out on top 7-4 against Jersey Farm. George goals came from Liam Picton (two), Aaron Goldsmith (two), Jake Edmonds, Ben Hutton and Nicholas Ward. Max Archer was their Man of the Match. The Jersey Farm goals came from Man of the Match Loris Macone, Matt Lacey, Maxwell Parsons and Lee Westrope.

IFC Reserves thrashed Phoenix A 8-2 with a strong team performance. Top scorer John Thompson led the way with four goals. Kieran Moss scored a great free- kick. Sam Carrington-Kennedy, Greg Irving and Anthony Roche were on singles. Sam McCord replied for Phoenix with two goals.

Greenwood and Camp KBK played out a six-goal thriller ending in a point apiece. Greenwood gifted camp a two-goal lead after five minutes with some poor defending. However, as the half progressed Greenwood grew into the game and created chances and pulled a goal back just before the break with Matt West scoring. The second half saw Greenwood the stronger team and with 60 minutes on the clock they equalised through a Nick Fanshaw free-kick. However, Camp hit back almost immediately to go 3-2 up with goals from Man of the Match Ritchie Jones, Matt Farmer and Dean Jones. It was Greenwood who pushed again and Matt Hedges scored to level the game at 3-3.

Wheathampstead ’89 Res gained a 3-1 revenge win against Bradmore Rovers Res and pushed their points into double figures, thanks to goals from Dan Welch, Ben Harris and Scott Rolls.