President’s Cup Final

Old Danes Athletic won the President’s Cup for a second straight season after an ill-tempered 2-1 win over Oxhey Hall Stars on Sunday.

It was disappointing that a final between the two sides that finished as winners and runners-up in the Premier Division descended to the lows which saw eight bookings and three sendings off, all from Oxhey including manager Luc Grant and his assistant.

The tone of the game was set in the first minute when Oxhey’s Harrison Jones was booked. It was an even start on the pitch and a contrast in styles between Old Danes’ swift passing game in comparison to their opponents’ far more direct approach. That thrived on long free-kicks and it was from one of these that Oxhey went ahead after 15 minutes.

Dan Horton’s long delivery from inside his own half seemed to deceive the Old Danes back four, who all seemed to stop and allowed Matt Byrne to get the final touch past and through the body of goalkeeper Oli Burks.

Three minutes later Byrne missed a golden chance to further increase the lead when he raced onto another long ball forward, but his lob on the run dropped just over the bar.

It seemed to be all going for the holders at this point when captain Calum Johns had to come off due to injury and was replaced by Marc Brownsell, and in keeping with the style of the game he was booked within a minute of coming on.

Old Danes slowly worked their way back into the contest and looked more threatening when they got the ball wide to dangerous wingers Chris White and Lewis Chappell.

But it was Oxhey Hall who missed another good chance after 20 minutes when Craig Horwood cleared off the line after Kieran Nelhams’ effort from another free-kick. And they were made to pay for that miss when Old Danes levelled on the half-hour mark with a disputed equaliser.

Danes were awarded a free-kick some yards out on the left and Glenn O’Malley struck the quickly-taken set piece into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. The Oxhey players claimed they hadn’t heard the whistle and were not ready, but the equaliser stood despite their protests.

That goal appeared to settle down Old Danes while their opponents seemed more preoccupied with disputing every decision, although the final action of the first half saw Rod Ladmore burst through the defence but his effort was well saved by Burks.

The start of the second period saw Old Danes start the better with White, Chappell and Jordan Woodcock, whose non-stop running and ability to hold the ball up won him the man-of-the-match award, causing problems.

Horton saw a header fly narrowly wide from a corner for Oxhey, while a Byrne shot from the left went inches wide of the far post as the game started to open up more. It was Old Danes’ turn to go close next as a White header at the back post was superbly pushed away by Jack MacDonald in the Oxhey goal.

The turning point of the game came 20 minutes into the second half with what proved to be the winner for Old Danes.

The incident actually started when Nelhams saw his header pushed away by Burks in the Danes goal and the ball was cleared long down field to the left wing where Woodcock raced into the area and was clipped on his heels as he shot and closed in on goal. The referee awarded a penalty and O’Malley dispatched it to the left of MacDonald. This incident saw Oxhey manager Grant and his assistant sent off for complaining about the decision.

Both sides had further chances but once again it was Oxhey’s ill-discipline that got the better off them when three minutes into stoppage time, White was attempting to take the ball down into the corner and was kicked by Oxhey captain Luke Shults, who was shown a red card.

Despite 11 minutes of additional time, Bushey couldn’t find an equaliser despite throwing keeper MacDonald forward at the end.

Old Danes Athletic: O Burks, Horwood (R Bennett 48), Janusz, C Bennett, J Burks, G Chappell (Shanahan 56), White, Johns (Brownsell 23), O’Malley (Spooner 75), Woodcock (L Chappell 90), L Chappell (Leondiou 84).

Oxhey Hall Stars: MacDoanld, Jones, Nelhams, Ladmore, Horton, Shults, McCarol, M Insley (Pow 76), Byrne, Kenwright, Smith (D Insley 79). Sub not used: Tuhey.

Premier Division

Hertfordshire Lions may have finished bottom the table but ended their season on a high with a 6-1 win over Nascot Arms.

This result allowed Prince George to take third place on goal difference from Nascot.

Dennis Fraser and Joe Tuberfield both scored braces for Lions with their other goals coming from Louis McNamara and Kieran Moss. Dean Collins netted Nascot’s consolation in the final minute.

Division One

Inter’s 4-2 win over Batchworth was enough for them to take third place in the table as Roundbush and South Oxhey Labour Reserves could only win a game each in their double header.

Josh Jones scored a double for Inter with Chris Stead and Jordan Heggie grabbing the others. Dillion Chamberlain and Cameron Murray replied for Batchworth.

Roundbush won the first part of the double header over South Oxhey thanks to an own goal from striker Jordan Ashton-Woods, who was playing in goal.

The second encounter ended in a 3-2 win for South Oxhey with Bradley Brunt scoring twice and one from Matt Westwood. David Flannery and Brian Sweeney responded for Bush.