Preview: Tudors look to see off Watford in Herts Senior Cup quarter-finals

Hemel Town FC will be hoping for fourth time lucky tonight as their thrice postponed Herts Senior Cup tie against Watford is scheduled to take place at Vauxhall Road.
Jordan Parkes will be aiming to continue his impressive form. picture (c) Darren KellyJordan Parkes will be aiming to continue his impressive form. picture (c) Darren Kelly
Jordan Parkes will be aiming to continue his impressive form. picture (c) Darren Kelly

The Tudors’ unbeaten run was extended to four games last Tuesday night with a 1-1 draw against Wealdstone at Vauxhall Road.

The game was the rescheduled fixture after the original game was abandoned at half-time two weeks ago due to the pitch freezing, when Hemel were 3-0 ahead.

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On this occasion, Dennis Oli opened the scoring early on to put the Tudors 1-0 up, however the game was much tighter and the Stones equalised in the second half, with the teams going on to share the points.

The Tudors have scored 18 goals in the Herts Senior Cup so far this season, winning at home to Sawbridgeworth Town and St Margaretsbury 9-3 and 9-0 respectively to reach the third round.

Tonight’s opponents Watford progressed to this round of the competition by winning 3-1 away to Royston in the second round, following a first round bye.

The Tudors and the Hornets last met in this competition in November 2009, when Hemel won 4-1 at Vauxhall Road.

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Watford FC was formed when West Herts and Watford St Mary’s merged in 1898; Watford St Mary’s were a league rival of the Tudors back in the early years of the club’s history, when it was known as Apsley and competed in the West Herts League.

The fortunes of both clubs went on to differ greatly, with Watford progressing from the Southern League to the Football League in 1920 and going on to become Hertfordshire’s leading professional football club.

Tonight’s quarter-final tie is the only outstanding fixture in this round, with the other three ties being completed in January.

The winners tonight will face a trip to Broadwater in the semi-final to take on Berkhamsted, while the other semi will be contested by Hemel’s Conference South rivals Boreham Wood and St Albans City.