AN agonisingly late goal for Maidstone United’s fans team denied Watford IFC at least the shot at a cup final from the penalty spot at the end of an attritional but absorbing South-East Cup semi-final.

The Stones scored with just a minute of injury-time left on the watch, breaking clear from a Hornets’ corner to convert from a low cross.

It was harsh on Watford, who matched the defensive solidity shown by the visitors with a steely resolve to give few chances away on a decent morning for football at Parmiter’s School.

Unusually for IFA football, defensive quality was very much to the fore as neither side managed to fashion anything more than fleeting glimpses of goal.

Hornets’ player-manager Richard Walker plunged smartly to his left to push away Maidstone’s only meaningful first-half effort at goal, then easily repelled a 15-yard shot 10 minutes from time as the visitors looked to make the most of a rare second-half opening.

Lamar St-Cyr scuffed Watford’s best early chance and striker Adam Gallichan hit a post with a side-footed effort as he bore down on the United goal. And debutant Dean Mitchell impressed at left-back, sending in some teasing centres as the game wore on.

John Sitkowski was outstanding at the heart of the Golden Boys’ rear-guard effort, taking an inadvertent pummelling to the ribs at the hands of Maidstone’s giant centre-forward mid-way through the second 45, while the determination of Rob Stone and Max Walters in midfield was impressive.

But it was the visitors who prevailed and, with Watford IFC’s best wishes, will now advance to the final to meet Millwall – who beat West Ham United 3-1 in the day’s other semi-final.

Hornets: Richard Walker; Matt Ainsley, Ally Hill, John Sitkowski, Max Walters; Lamar St-Cyr, Rob Stone, Stuart Nicholls (C), Richard Murphy; Adam Gallichan, Charlie Wood.
Subs used: Dean Mitchell, Ben Bateman, Ciaran Bateman.

WATFORD IFC will face Maidstone United’s fans team in the semi-final of the South East Cup this weekend, after a win by the odd goal in nine at home to their Kentish rivals Gillingham on March 24th.

The team, managed by Moz Clarke with Richard Walker having to referee, was grateful to two debutants in accomplished centre-halves Tom Curson and Lewis Brentham; Stuart Nicholls disobeying the golden rule of never introducing new players to the squad that are better than you.

The Gills’ persistence notwithstanding, it was more Hornets’ errors that kept the visitors in this tie, with Gillingham’s third and fourth goals of a 5-4 scoreline coming from a clumsily-conceded penalty kick and a comedy own-goal one minute from full-time.

In between the goalscoring action, Watford settled into a decent passing rhythm at times, with central midfield duo James Jenkins and Ben Kelly at the heart of much of the host’s progressive play.

That said, the first goal was 34 minutes in coming. ‘Kenbele’ slotted striker Adam Gallichan through; he lunged at the loose ball which broke off the outrushing Gills’ keeper for Lamar St-Cyr to expertly sweep it home off the underside of the crossbar from the corner of the penalty area.

Gills replied with a tidy leveller to restore parity going into the break, but just three second-half minutes had elapsed when Gallichan was rewarded for an ambitious 25-yard strike when it dipped under the goalkeeper’s grasp.

Two more Watford goals around the hour mark appear to have put the tie to bed. First a Jenkins centre flew across the face of goal and was turned in at close-range by Gallichan, then Mark O’Connor produced the game’s best piece of skill to flick a through-ball over his marker before half-volleying home to make it 4-1.

But Gillingham wouldn’t lie down and hit a second mid-way through the second 45, knocking Watford off their stride somewhat. The home team found a fifth, though, when with 12 minutes remaining sub Ben Bateman slammed home into the side of the net from 12 yards – a well-taken first-time shot after a set-piece broke his way.

Then came two late visitor’s goals and some nervy late set-piece defending by Watford to eventually close out the game as winners by five goals to four.

TEAM: Ben Pegram; Matt Ainsley, Tom Curson, Lewis Bentham, Stuart Nicholls (c); Lamar St-Cyr, James Jenkins, Ben Kelly, Richard Murphy; Adam Gallichan, Mark O’Connor.
Subs used: Tom Davison, Ben Bateman. Sub not used: Martin Pollard.

APPROPRIATELY, it was Richard Murphy – chalking up a club-record 300th Watford IFC appearance – who had the final say at the end of a thrilling 5-5 draw with Millwall supporters’ team.

Internet ‘Orns player-manager Richard Walker insisted that Murphy be charged with the responsibility of levelling the scores with what proved to be literally the last kick of the game, and the veteran weirdo didn’t disappoint.

After Adam Gallichan had been felled when about to stroke home from close-range, Murphy stepped up to notch his 69th goal of a remarkably long and consistent WIFC career – now 50 appearances clear of nearest rival Julian Carrera.

The spot-kick was the tenth and final goal of a belter of a match at Parmiter’s School, which saw the Lions race into a two-goal lead before Charlie Wood followed up to crash home a rebound from debutant Tom Payne’s shot and Matt Mesiano had wrong-footed the keeper with a flick-header from a long free-kick forward stood some 20 yards from goal.

Millwall restored their lead but it was 3-3 by the break after Wood went to the top of the season’s goalscoring chart, nodding home his 5th of the season from Walker’s cross following a quickly-taken short corner.

Watford had the better of the second-half’s opening exchanges but the Lions it was who went 4-3 in front some 15 minutes in when their always-dangerous central midfielder Dan Marsh played a series of one-twos to slot home what might have been the goal of the game on another day.

That honour, however, belonged to Ally Hill, who strode onto a clearance before unleashing a 35-yard blockbuster which the Lions’ keeper barely saw before it billowed the top of the netting under the crossbar.

Then Watford goalkeeper Ali Cameron marked his debut with a stunning save at close-quarters to round off an assured display, despite the unflattering goals against column.

The visitors did break through again, though, with a fifth goal around eight minutes from time before Murphy capped game number 300 to level – the spoils shared after a pulsating encounter.

Hornets: Ali Cameron; Phil McBride, Paul Shelock, Stuart Holdham, Matt Ainsley; Max Walters, Derek Payne, Tom Payne, Richard Murphy (c), Matt Mesiano, Adam Gallichan. Subs used: Charlie Wood, Stuart Nicholls, Ally Hill, Sol Tomlinson, Richard Walker.
Man-of-the-Match: Charlie Wood.

A GOAL spree during a much-improved second-half performance put extra gloss on a victory at home to Northampton Town’s Claret Shoemakers IFC; 8-1 the final scoreline as Watford IFC extended their unbeaten start to the 2017/18 campaign.

The visitors to Woodside offered stiff resistance, scoring an equaliser on the counter-attack through Scott Cornelius to send the two sides into half-time level at one goal apiece. Stuart Holdham’s close-range finish off his thigh was all the Internet ‘Orns had to show for long spells of first-half possession, which wasn’t allied to much conviction in the Cobblers’ defensive third of the field.

But after interval urgings to move the ball quicker from player-manager Richard Walker, WIFC responded with a seven-goal salvo – using good passing interchanges to take the game away from Town. Ben Kelly’s industry in forward and midfield areas earned him a brace of goals, while Mark O’Connor will know he should have had more than just a solitary strike to show for some of the positions he found himself in.

Charlie Wood and Man-of-the-Match Richard Murphy grabbed a goal apiece and Adam Gallichan powered home a Walker corner delivery with his head. The manager then turned from provider to scorer with the goal of the game; an exquisite 20-yard chip into the very top corner of the Northampton net.

The morning saw welcome returns to action for the in-love (not with each other) duo of Rob Stone & Jez Hinds, while Paul Shelock was the stand-out performer in a defence which went largely untroubled during the second 45.

Team, 4-4-2: Jez Hinds; Phil McBride, Paul Shelock, Stuart Nicholls (c), Matt Ainsley; Matt Mesiano, Rob Stone, Stuart Holdham, Sol Tomlinson; Charlie Wood, Adam Gallichan. Subs used: Mark O’Connor, Ben Kelly, Richard Murphy, Dayle Littlejohn, Richard Walker.

WIFC would’ve been the happier of the two sides when full-time blew on the most rare of all IFA-related scorelines outside of Worldnet’s shorter matches; the always-unlikely goalless draw.

The two teams gather for a pre kick-off picture..

Hosting the Internet ‘Orns for the first time since the 2006/07 season, Athletico Pompey struck the Watford bar from range during the first 45 minutes but, that apart, although enjoying the majority of possession they were kept largely at arms’ length thanks to a strong defensive display led by Man-of-the-Match Kevin Affleck – in control from centre-half on his debut.

Debutant guest players Reece Gohil, Liam Martin and Chris Marsh in particular all performed admirably as part of what was something of a scratch visitor’s line-up which also included Sol Tomlinson making his maiden appearance for the club – so five new faces in total.

It took until mid-way through the second half for Watford to start to find their passing range and apply some limited pressure to the Portsmouth goal. The best chances of the game fell to Richard Murphy – who lifted the ball over the crossbar as well as the keeper from 15 yards – and Charlie Wood, who steered his header wide from a raking Stuart Nicholls’ set-piece delivery.

Player-manager Richard Walker was relatively busy in goal at the other end, springing to his right to deny Pompey at close-range before the young referee – who handled a good-natured game admirably – called time on the stalemate.

Drinks were taken in the AFC Portchester clubhouse with Portsmouth promising an invite to a summer tournament to be held at Fratton Park.

Team, 4-4-2, R to L; Richard Walker; Reece Gohil, Chris Marsh, Kevin Affleck, Matt Ainsley; Liam Martin, Stuart Nicholls (c), Sol Tomlinson, Cleveland Brandy; Richard Murphy, Charlie Wood. Subs used: Andy Myall, John Sitkowski.

TOM BECK made the perfect exit from the regular Watford IFC squad, signing off with a striker’s goal as he heads for a permanent work contract in Germany. In a chance-a-minute goalfest at Parmiter’s School, Watford IFC record a welcome first win of the 2017/18 season against the spirited visitors from Hampton & Richmond.

Three goals within the first 20 minutes of the match effectively set the tone for a relatively comfortable home success for the Hornets over the Beavers.

Mike Viney notched his maiden WIFC goal when he headed home Richard Walker’s corner, then two clinical finishes from striker Mark O’Connor had Watford firmly in control, but Hampton hit back from a free-kick to make it 3-1 at half-time.

Charlie Wood’s clinical strike made it four with a top-corner bullet, and Walker hit the crossbar before Hampton scored again. Stuart Nicholls’ cross then caused a fifth, when his far-post delivery cannoned back from the post and then in off the hapless Beavers’ keeper.

The visitors made it 5-3 with a scrambled effort from a corner, but there was still time for Beck to shine before his move to the European mainland. Beck latched onto a through-ball, held off his man and then – like a good striker would – drilled the ball across the goalie and into the far corner of the net.

He was immediately subbed, albeit with only 15 minutes left, for his brazen temerity in firing home – very much out of keeping with his usual habit of close-range headed goals!

Ally Hill, moving out of goal for the game’s last portion, stroked home a Hornets’ seventh when he finished off the move of the match involving Matts Ainsley and Ladell, Joel Moody, O’Connor and Wood.

Hampton are always good-natured opposition and this encounter was no different, with the Beavers putting up a fine show despite having just the bare 11.

Watford’s Man-of-the-Match award went to the composed defending of John Sitkowski.

Watford: Ally Hill; Matt Ladell, Mike Viney, John Sitkowski, Matt Ainsley; Joel Moody, Richard Walker, Stuart Nicholls, Richard Murphy; Mark O’Connor, Tom Beck (C). Subs used: Adam Gallichan, Charlie Wood.

THREE Stevenage goals in the last five minutes of a competitive opening fixture of season 2017/18 denied Watford IFC a first-day win – and it was harsh on the hosts who led for most of the contest.

The Internet ‘Orns settled the quicker, thanks in part to a first-half lead courtesy of Mark O’Connor – but Boro replied within 15 minutes after a defensive lapse let in their striker to stroke home.

But Watford rallied, enjoying the lion’s share of possession, and went into the break 3-1 to the good thanks to two headed goals by skipper Ally Hill.

The first came direct from a far-post Stuart Sperinck flag-kick delivery and then, 10 minutes later, Sperinck was fed the ball after his own half-cleared corner and found Hill again with a deft outside-of-the-boot cross.

One of two debutants, Matt Mesiano, headed home for a fourth midway through the second 45 after a penalty box scramble saw the ball loop up kindly into his path. The other maiden appearance came from Mike Viney, who took the Man of the Match accolade for his sterling and rugged work down Watford’s right channel.

With the game never quite dead, it would nevertheless have been hard to foresee a three-goal comeback for the visitors.

Yet they took heart from making it 4-2 with five minutes left. And when they got a third with a minute on the watch, Watford’s set-piece vulnerability cost them in injury-time to force a case of shared spoils when the full-time whistle blew not even 60 seconds later.

Hornets: Neil Hall; Cleveland Brandy, Ally Hill (c), Ben Bateman, Matt Ainsley; Adam Gallichan, Stuart Holdham, Tom Davison, Connor Church; Mark O’Connor, Charlie Wood. Subs used: Mike Viney, Matt Mesiano, Stuart Sperinck, Max Walters, Richard Walker.

WIFC are delighted to reveal an updated club badge to celebrate the 20th birthday of the club…

The new badge..

Replacing the shield badge that’s been used for the last ten years, the design is intended as an evolution of past badges, with the familiar sliding tackle logo, first used in the 1980’s by Watford FC, still present and updated.

We will soon launch a range of t-shirts, shorts and other sporting goods with the new badge, available for all players past and present to order.

ASSUMED lost in the mist of time, the recent discovery of an old calendar in Simon Devon’s loft confirms the forgotten date of the first ever WIFC game.. 18th May 1997. That’s 20 years ago today. Further posts will follow today to mark this momentous occasion..

WATFORD IFC collected their first silverware since 2013 at a sunny Stadium MK yesterday, with a tournament win in the MKDSA Changing Places Challenge Cup. The 5 team tournament, organised superbly by the MK Dons team, was held to raise funds for a Changing Places facility at the stadium, which will enable disabled people who cannot use standard accessible toilets, such as those with with profound and multiple learning disabilities, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, as well as older people, to enjoy matches at the stadium in comfort.

In the group stages of the 11 a side tournament, WIFC met Northampton first up.. with only 25 mins for each match the emphasis was on taking chances, but the Internet ‘Orns spurned a good number, including three woodwork strikes, before Tommy Twelves smashed home a winner with 2 mins to spare. The second game against the hosts was a more comfortable affair, with an early Twelves goal and a Stu Nicholls penalty securing a second win.

A stout defensive display saw a goal-less draw with Stevenage secured in the third game, with keeper Neil Hall in commanding form and while Twelves and Mark O’Connor both missed chances to make the final group game academic, the feeling in the camp was positive going into the last group game against Crawley needing a point to confirm a place in the final. WIFC duly took all three thanks to a fine 15th goal of the season from Mark O’Connor.

The final saw a re-match with Crawley, who had battled to the final with 11 men standing. Charlie Wood, back from 4 months travelling, opened the scoring with Twelves adding a second. All looked on course until Crawley finally punctured the Internet ‘Orns tournament clean sheet with 10 minutes to play, but any thoughts of a comeback were ended by Twelves straight from the re-start. With Crawley tiring and WIFC able to bring on fresh legs, O’Connor and Ben Kelly gave the scoreline a flattering hue with a goal apiece.

Stand-in manager Dave Messenger was delighted with the team spirit and effort shown throughout the day. “We defended brilliantly across the 125 minutes of football, and every member of the squad contributed to a memorable tournament win” enthused Messenger. “We were clinical in front of goal and kept the ball well all day. Best of all, the day was a huge success and it was great to see over £2000 raised for the MKDSA fund. We wish them all the very best with their future fund-raising for this important cause”

Squad: Neil Hall; Matt Ainsley, Ally Hill, John Sitkowski, David Sitkowski, Warren White, Stuart Nicholls (C), Matt Ball, Dave Messenger; Richard Murphy, Ben Kelly, Tom Davison, John Machin, Vince Machin, Charlie Wood; Tom Beck, Tommy Twelves, Mark O’Connor, Marc Duffy.

Results
Northampton
W 1-0
Twelves

MK Dons
W 2-0
Twelves, Nicholls (Pen)

Stevenage
D 0-0

Crawley
W 1-0
O’Connor

Crawley – Final
W 5-1
Wood, Twelves 2, O’Connor, Kelly