Semi-final day in the Hitchin Sunday League saw the usual thrilling clashes.

Chells Rovers and AC Malone will contest the Carl Couzens Challenge Cup final with two high-scoring but very different contests.

Chells Rovers cruised into the final with a 5-1 win over Arlesey Town.

The other semi though was a seven-goal thriller with Malone beating Coach & Horses 4-3.

Malone had lost three semi-finals last year and have already been beaten in one this season but they broke the hoodoo

Coach opened the scoring within five minutes after a near post header from a corner by Billy Harris but Malone fought back to lead 2-1.

Vinay Virdee crossed for Will Payne to equalise and then Payne doubled his tally.

Both sides had efforts ruled out before the interval but Malone went two goals clear early in the second half after a long ball over the top was buried by Kane Stanton.

Alfie Warman pulled one back for Coach & Horses from the penalty spot but that was soon cancelled out by Payne's hat-trick.

The game was sent onto a knife edge with 20 minutes to go with a third Coach goal but despite a heated finale, Malone hung on.

The final will be played on May 14 at Arlesey Town at 3pm.

Only one semi-final was able to go ahead in the George John Cup, Inter Malone winning through 3-0 against FC Emperors Head.

A waterlogged pitch postponed the other match between Lea Sports PSG and Kimpton and the weather curtailed a number of matches in the league, although some did go ahead.

The Cock moved up a place in Division One following a 2-0 win at home against Buffs while second-placed Engineers Arms won 3-2 at home to Ashwell.

In Division Two, GSS beat Almond Tree 3-2, the side above them in the table.

It was an even match with GSS taking the lead on 49 minutes through Jamie Burbury after a brave header from Jamie Woods.

Midway through the second half Ben Clark found Paul Morris for 2-0 but that lead was wiped out just seven minutes later.

However, GSS were given a penalty six minutes from time and Morris put them back in front and ahead of Almond Tree on goal difference.

Tree also finished the game with nine men after two sending offs late on.

Saint Evenage had a 2-0 win away against Feed Up Warm Up while Troll Campbell drew 1-1 against Hitchin Rovers.

Two second-half goals for North Herts Hatters gave them a 3-0 win over Khoi Khoi.

 

Hitchin Sunday League results (March 19)

Hitchin Sunday League Carl Couzens Challenge Cup semi-final: Chells Rovers 5 Arlesey Town 1; Coach & Horses 3 AC Malone 4.

Hitchin Sunday League George John Cup semi-final: FC Emperors Head 0 FC Inter Malone 3; Lea Sports PSG P Kimpton P.

Hitchin Sunday League Division One: The Cock 2 Buffs 0; St Ippolyts P Atletico 99 P; Engineers Arms 3 Ashwell 2.

Hitchin Sunday League Division Two: GSS 3 Almond Tree 2; Feed Up Warm Up 0 Saint Evenage 2; Troll Campbell 1 Hitchin Rovers 1; North Herts Hatters 3 Khoi Khoi 0; Stotfold Juniors P North Baldock P; Squirrel Taverners P FC Kings P.