...guest writer Kev Currey reports...

13 Goal thriller as half go out of 16 Herts Intermediate Cup games

MKS Carpentry with 7 out of a 13 goal game against Markyate scoring the other 6. Markyate opened the scoring in the first 13 seconds of the game with MKS equalising 2 minutes later but it did not end there by half time it was 6-4 to Markyate, MKS closed the gap with 10 minutes gone in the second half scoring their 6th goal 18 minutes later it was all set for extra time when MKS played a long ball up from the keeper and 3 passes later they scored the winner two and half minutes into added time, scores for MKS where Josh Dance, Anthony Lanni, James Sawyer and 4 goals from Neil Roskilly.

TC United went out of the cup after extra time, after drawing 2-2 at the end of fulltime with Terry Lock scoring from the Penalty Spot and Alan Gifford scoring in open play for TC United, then an extra 30 minutes saw them loose out on the next round by losing 5-2 to Bradmore Rovers.

Marquis of Lorne also went out after drawing 2-2 after full time and extra time, they then went on to penalties losing out in sudden death losing by 8-9 penalties to Verulam Arms.

FC Mallard lost out going through to the next round to Brookmans Park losing 2-0.
11 goals scored between Breachwood Lions and Hammer OGB with Breachwood losing to Hammer 6-5, goal came from Daniel Jefferies, Oliver Mason, Iaian Turkentine and 2 from Richard Taaffe.
Odyssey secured their place in the next round by winning 4-1 against Sportspace with goals 2 goals from Will Cubitt and 2 from Louis Gilbert.
Putterills went out losing 5-1 to FC Potters Bar with Putterills only goal coming from Allan Johnston.
Chequers won their game with 3 goals to spare against Asco scoring just 2, goals for Div 2 leaders Chequers came from Paul Osbourne, Steven Teale and a hat trick from Stephen Koop.
Emperors Head went through to the next round with the bear 11 players and with no defenders in their team by putting 5 past White Horse who only managed 2 goals with goals coming from James Batchelor, Benjamin Collins, Ashley Sealy, Lewis Sealy and Stuart Smillie.
Hartham Press went out to AFC Welwyn losing 4-1.
A1 trophies travelled to Watford to meet FC swan in their first county cup game of the season. It started well for the Stevenage side as they put early pressure on the home team creating a few half chances and testing the keeper early doors. The break through finally came when Garry Brown came in from the left of midfield and coolly finished off a nice bit of play. A1 didn’t stop there and with Trevor Long pulling the strings from midfield they soon doubled their lead with a nice cross into the box finished by James Harrod. They then rounded off an excellent half, when some pressure on the opponents keeper lead to a poor kick, which landed at Tallem Dennis’s feet and he coolly lobbed the helpless keeper. Second half was a much more relaxed half, with A1 soaking up any attack the opposition had, and the only real highlight of the second half was when Ryan Angell broke free down the right, to finish from a tight angle and wrap up the win for the away team.



The Old Barclavians (OB) travelled to Bishops Stortford outfit The Bricklayers Arms (BA). It was the home team who started brightest and kept possession early on without really creating a chance as they set out with a defensive 4-5-1 formation playing with a big central striker. The OB had only 1 sub as their squad was depleted through injury however they managed to get themselves back in the game and applied pressure well, forcing the BA deep into their half for sustained periods of the first half. Callum Gardiner defended well from the front and tested the keeper out with a fizzing drive that was blocked away by the very impressive BA keeper.
It was a 60 yard cross field ball from Josh 'the mouth' Watson who found the advancing Pat Owen who powerfully headed over the keeper to give the away side the early advantage. The OB started to look dangerous as they passed well and created chances. James French and Dave Warwick were formidable in the middle of the park as they controlled the opponents 3 man central midfield. Paul Morcombe and Lee Falanga used their experience effectively to keep the big centre forward limited to very few touches and even less chances.
Carl Swendell solidified the back 4 as he too kept his opponent quiet and Michael Schmidt looked assured at left back combining well with Pat Owen. Josh Watson looked sharp and managed to remain focussed (well...) as he terrorised the BA right back with every opportunity. Dean Page combined excellently with MOM Callum Gardiner upfront as they both closed down from the front and shot on target at regular intervals keeping the keeper very busy.
After the break it was OB who looked the likely winners as efforts from Page, Gardiner and French were saved impressively before Gardiner capped his best performance this season with the goal he deserved firing home from the edge of the 6 yard area with an accurate near post header. Owen was substituted for young Brad Vooght who continued to torment the right back with every chance he got. Falanga was pushed upfront late on in the match after suffering with cramp, immediately after Vooght took on 2 defenders and cut inside to fire a curling effort past the keeper to give the OB a 3 nil lead. The weakened defence conceded late on after it looked like Ryan King had saved the initial effort only for the big central forward to score from the rebound to ruin the clean sheet the team had worked tirelessly for. King saved superbly very late on as a shot that looked destined for the top corner was tipped over. Final score 1-3. The OB steam train continues to gather momentum, away to the Stevenage Old Town at King Georges next week, need to win to keep pressure on Broadhall who don't have a league fixture for a couple of weeks
Rileys Athletic secured their place in the next round winning 3-1 against Jubilee FC, with the 3 goals for Rileys coming from Thomas Ryedheard and 2 from Tom Gallagher.
Crooked Billet Boro scored just 2 against the 5 U.S Acli with James Marshall scoring both of Billet’s goals.
Bedwell Rangers went into their game hoping they could carry on their cup run after winning the Herts Junior Cup last season but found it hard going losing 4-2 to Harpenden Arms Athletic, the 2 goals for Bedwell came from Ethan Draper and James Reeves.
The last team to secure their place in the next round was 2nd placed div2 team Nirankari Timebridge winning 2-0 against Oaks goals scored by Richard Hall and Paul Underwood.