Skew Bridge may have taken 45 minutes to reach top gear but their ruthlessness in front of goal in the second half booked a place in the semi final of the Herts Sunday Cup after shipping six past Borehamwood 2000.
With a spot in the last four on the line, Skew Bridge started the brighter and took the lead through Ben Warren but their joy was short lived as Borehamwood snatched an equaliser against the run of play.
Skew regained the lead after Andrew Saul’s spectacular volley from a corner crashed against the bar and fell to Matthew Richardson who headed his first goal for club. Again Skew Bridge’s concentration lapsed after a goal allowing Borehamwood to equalise and go into the break on level terms.
Skew Bridge started the second half strongly but Matt Lord still had to make a great save to keep the score line level.
From then on the game was all about Skew Bridge, especially after Borehamwood saw their central defender given his marching orders after hauling down Warren in the box. The same man brushed himself off to convert the spot kick for his second of the game.
The introduction of James Hardy further strengthened the Skew Bride midfield as he, Stuart Brown and Dan Bathurst controlled the game.
Brown supplied the cross for the fourth which was turned into the net by a Wood defender, before Ed Frost turned the fullback inside out and crossed for man of the match Richardson to slot home for a well deserved second. Jamie Taylor supplied the sixth for Frost who jinked past two defenders and fired the ball past the helpless keeper.
Herts Intermediate Cup
It was a disappointing day for the HAD League as both Oaks and Harpenden Arms went down. Oaks scored three goals through Adam Fowler, Jack Shepherd and Scott Sherman but wasn’t enough as Doves ran out 4-3 winners.
Harpenden Arms fell to a 2-0 defeat away to AFC Spartans despite an outstanding performance from Scott Timmins.
Herts Junior Cup
St Albans IFC threw away the chance of County Cup glory – but the match was overshadowed by Charlie Adolph breaking his leg. Three down, IFC missed a penalty then pulled two back through Jason Nicolaou and Calum Marjoram, before getting caught chasing the game and losing 5-2.
Nicholas Breakspear OB Reserves put in a superb performance to qualify for the semi-finals following a 2-0 away win against Riverside Corinthians. The goals came from James Wheeler and Ryan Hearne.
Herts Advertiser Challenge Cup
Having defeated AFC Rangers twice this season it was a shock that Nicholas Breakspear OB surprisingly went down 2-0.
Herts Advertiser Junior Cup
St Albans Royals came out on top in a tight 2-1 encounter against Queens Head Sandridge Reserves.
Royals soaked pressure in the first half with Queens Head having most of the play but their defence held strong yet again. Royals got a break through after a counter attack saw Steve O’Sullivan cross for Matt Brand to put Royals 1-0 up at half time.
Royals kept the ball well in the second half and went two up after a corner fell to the feet of Steve O’Sullivan who buried it into the back of the net.
Queens grabbed a late goal to set up a tense finale but Royals saw the game out, thanks to star man Ryan Winch who was outstanding in goal.
Premier Division
Verulam Arms picked up their second league win of the season with a 4-2 score against Phoenix. Lars Burkhardt and Matt Kenneford scored two goals apiece and Glenn Rawlings picked up the man of the match award.
Division One
Six Bells came out 5-3 winners in an eight goal thriller against Brookmans Park.
In an evenly contested game, Six Bells took the lead through a well taken free kick by Zack Wallace but Brookmans Park equalised on the stroke of half time.
Early in the second half Six Bells went ahead when Martin Gentleman lobbed the Park keeper from the edge of the 18 yard box, but once again Brookmans Park equalised.
Six Bells stepped up a gear and went 5-2 up with a well taken hat-trick by Aaron Clarke. Brookmans Park pulled one back just before full time. Park’s goals came from Danny Webb, Jon Edmonds and Grant Noble.
Queens Head Sandridge recorded an empahtic 11-1 win with Chris Martin pulling the strings from midfield. The goals were scored by Phil Turner (three), Adam Parker (two), Tommy Esom (two), Dan Megias, Sam ledger, Matt Corran and birthday boy Ricky Furnell.
Blackberry Jack beat FC Potters Bar 2-0 thanks to Anthony Burns, who scored both goals and scooped man of the match.
Division Two
A dominant performance saw PSV run out 8-0 victors with goals from Craig Taylor (three), Ryan Houghton (two), Greg Deacon, Tom Hanson and Tom Herd. Billy Phillips was PSV’s stand out player.
Church End were disappointed to only take a point in a 2-2 draw with Skew Bridge Reserves. Bridge took a two goal lead through Simon Beazley and Phil Lythgoe into half time, but goals from Harry Blackman and Billy Barnes ensured Church took a point.
Colney Heath Rangers scored two late goals to beat Herts Mauritian 4-3.
Rangers grabbed two early goals before Mauritian’s Steve Bwanga curled the ball into the back of the net and Hamza Khan powered in an equaliser from near the halfway line. Liam Wanless scored the Mauritians third goal but Colney hit back to score twice to snatch the points. Ranger’s scorers were Lee Brinkley (two), Jason Mitchell and Arash Sadeghi.
The conditions played a major part in Phoenix Reserves and Victoria’s 2-2 draw. Victoria went 2-0 up with goals from Mark Gallagher and Andrew Pollard in the first half but Phoenix replied with goals from Jack Greaney and Jason Lohan.
Division Three
Precision moved to the top of the table with an impressive 6-1 win against Wheathampstead ‘89. Matt Day and Dean Thompson had a goal of the season contest with Thompson executing an exquisite chipped effort whilst Day’s 30 yard effort had the referee asking for the net to be repaired. Precision’s goals came from Day, Thompson, Leon Ferdinand and Jack Woods. Wheathampstead’s reply came from David Gullefer.
Old Albanians made it five games unbeaten following their 7-2 win against Brookmans Park. Francis Carr stole the Albanians honours with a hat-trick and man of the match award. Old Albanians’ other goals came from Warren Clayton (two), James Morris and Adam Phillips. Joe Cullum and Nick Sims were on target for Brookmans Park.
In an evenly contested game Radlett Village and Blacksmiths Arms shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw. Arms goals came from Tim Attwood, Oliver Franks, Rhys Jacob and Dean Skipsey while Robert Briggs was named man of the match.
Division Four
Three second half goals handed Vision Reserves a 4-1 win over Dukes. Going into the break at 1-1, Dukes pressed hard to get a result but fortune eluded them as Adam Wallace scored a hat trick and Mohammed Bakht were on target for Vision. Duke’s goal came from Dan Bennetts. Goals from Alistair Challans and Barry Potts saw Oaks Reserves move in to the second slot in the league following their 2-1 win against The Ridge.
Cottonmill and Colts OB shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw. Cottonmill pinned Colts back for most of the first half and took the lead but Colts sprang to life with an equaliser from Ross Payton. Cottonmill retook the lead but Clive Pinder scored his first goal for Old Boys to level the game at the break.
The second half saw Old Boys having to pull goals back after gifting Cottonmill their third and fourth goals. Michael Bray made it 3-3 with a penalty and five minutes from the end Lewis Paul scored to make it 4-4. Colts Man of the Match was Giles Rickett.
Brookmans Park A team threw away a two goal lead to lose 3-2 against Marshalswick Rovers thanks to strikes from man of the match Ian Taylor (two) and Alastair Bart. Brookmans’ goals came from Toby Hanlon and Ollie Thomas.
Division Five
Greenwood Park continued their good form with a 4-1 win over Quat.
Nick Fanshaw ran on to an inch perfect through ball from Rob Barron and slotted home to give Greenwood the lead, however it was short lived when Quat levelled through Aziz Oyekan. Greenwood continued to dominate and were rewarded when Fanshaw stepped up to score his second goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Matt Hedges got on the score sheet to make it 3-1 before substitute Michael Kwok added a fourth. Joe Barron was Greenwoods Man of the Match putting in a solid performance in the middle of the park.
AFC Mymms’ Simon Skeggs kick started his side’s 5-0 rout of Jersey Farm with a first half goal before a four-goal second period.
Liam Picton scored four goals as George Redbourn beat Bricket Wood 7-0. Redbourn’s other goals came from Sean Flatherty, Ben Hutton and an own goal.
Herts Athletic beat Camp KBK 7-1 to continue their fine league form. Sam Lyon was Athletic’s star man with a hat-trick, whilst goals from Sean Trollope, Joe Meija and Del Cleary kept the pressure on the top teams, closing the gap to just one point.
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