Watford Sunday League: Fox & Stone, Oakview and North Watford among victors

Fox & Stone gave themselves an excellent chance of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Watford Sunday League Invitation Cup with a 5-2 win over Sun Sports Athletic.

They produced a dominant first-half performance in which they established a 3-1 lead.

A strike from Josh Noyes was followed by a neat finish from Mitchell Wiese, who rounded the keeper after a ball over the top.

Sun pulled one back through Nick Kerley before a header from Ronnie Blagden on the stroke of half-time restored the two-goal advantage.

Wiese charged down a kick from the Sun keeper to get a fourth in the second half before Sun pulled a goal back from a Jack Plunkett header.

Noyes rounded the scoring off with another clinical finish.

Action in the area from Oakview's victory

Oakview are through the group stage with a fourth straight win, this time 4-2 over old rivals St Josephs.

St Josephs had the better of a goalless first half but they failed to make several good chances count.

They were made to pay for this at the start of the second half when Oakview scored two goals.

First Lewis Putman opened the scoring with a powerful strike, then Taylor Cobb doubled the lead with a well-struck volley.

St Josephs pulled a goal back with a penalty from Alex Ward, and again failed to take some good chances to equalise before Oakview punished them once more with Lee Armitt coming off the bench to net.

Daniel Griggs scored a deserved second for St Josephs, but it was Cobb who rounded off the scoring for their opponents.

Alex Ward converts St Josephs' penalty

North Watford currently occupy the third of the four group qualification spots after a 1-0 win over Evergreen.

The only goal came in the first half when Daryl Brown slotted home.

Evergreen had more of the play after the break but couldn’t find a way through a resolute North Watford defence.

Invitation Cup Group A

With the top two sides in the group, Railway Arms and Rifle Volunteer not in action, Cassiobury Rangers moved level on points with them both thanks to a 2-0 win over Bushey Rangers.

A scoreless opening period saw Bushey have a goal disallowed but they took their chances after the restart.

The first goal came when Joe Mortimer pulled out to the wide right and put in a cross that was too difficult for the Bushey defence to clear, and Jamie McDougall slammed home into the bottom right corner.

The second goal was created from the left wing, with Sam Mortimer playing in Corum Chase, who rode one tackle but a second brought him down in the box.

Joe Mortimer dispatched the resultant penalty into the bottom left corner to seal what could prove a vital three points.

AFC Leavesden bounced back from two straight defeats with a 5-1 away win over Oxhey Spartans, who remain at the foot of the group table.

Lucas Halligan opened the scoring with an early penalty, and Ben Knights added a second soon after with a finish from just inside the box.

A Sam Hays cross was headed into the Oxhey net from their defender before Jack Carter got the pick of the goals with a half volley from just outside the box, putting Leavesden 4-0 up at half-time.

Oxhey responded early in the second half with a goal from Rob Da Silva before Diaz added Leavesden’s fifth from close range in the final minutes.

Junior Cup Group A

Woodside Wanderers lead the group after a narrow 2-1 win over Batchworth, although they have played two more games than second-placed Chess United.

David Flannery scored both of their goals, with Alex Hollis netting the Batchworth reply.

Junior Cup Group B

Watford Town and Watford Sports are both through to the quarter-finals after victories.

Town win the group after a 2-1 triumph over Sparta Phoenix, who miss out.

Nathan Nottage scored a brace in a man of the match performance to help his side qualify, while Elliot Greig got the Sparta goal.

Watford Sports will finish in the runners-up spot after a 6-2 victory over ACS Milan.

Tom Harris and Harley Wilson got the Milan goals, with Callum Bedwell, Alex Clarke, Sam Serrated, Harry Foley, Jake Millman and Eesaa Bond all on target for Sports.

The dead rubber game between Chalfont Saints and Watford Athletic ended in a 2-2 draw.

Aidan Brennan scored both of the Chalfont goals, with Ross Benton and Cian Hallahan replying for Athletic.

Junior Cup Group C

The game between the top two in the group ended with St Marys Harefield beating Hertfordshire Eagles 3-2.

The win ensured St Marys are through to the quarter-finals, while their opponents require at least a point from their final group game against FC Metropolitan Herts on Sunday to join them.

Ryan Hope, Charlie Malin and James Peake netted for the home side, with Jack McLaughlin and Jordan Keely replying for Eagles.

Junior Cup Group D

AFC Bedmond and SOCA are through in this group after they both enjoyed home wins.

Bedmond beat WDFC 4-0, opening the scoring when Jordan Toomey popped up at the back post to divert a Connor Toomey shot into the corner.

The lead was soon doubled in the second half when a Lewis Toomey cross which was met by Connor Toomey to loop his header over the oncoming goalkeeper.

Then Lewis Toomey picked up another assist as he set up Jordan Toomey to double his tally.

Bedmond continued to push forward and won a penalty as Lewis Toomey was fouled just inside the penalty area when through on goal.

Jordan Toomey stepped up to score his penalty but he was made to retake after Jack Pratchett was too eager and entered the penalty area before the kick was taken. But the same player held his nerve to convert the retake to complete his hat-trick.

SOCA beat Ricky AFC 2-0 thanks to a double from Connor Mayhew.