A disastrous opening twenty minutes cost the OHAFC Veterans a place in the semi-finals of the Derrick Moore Plate competition for the second season running, the hosts falling 3-0 behind on the Harrow School astroturf to a rampant Wellingtonians side and unable to make amends, despite fighting hard in the remainder of the tie. The OHAFC gave themselves a glimmer of hope with three goals to end the half, the visitors lead reduced to two at 5-3, but a very different second forty-five minutes followed, with neither side able to find a way through until the closing ten minutes when a tiring Harrow side conceded twice on the break. The defeat extinguishes the club’s last hope of silverware for this season.

In contrast to the Vets’ last runout at home to the Old Westminsters prior to Christmas, skipper David Lederman was able to name a strong squad of thirteen for this tie and gambled on keeping things tight in the opening half-hour by starting with two of the main attacking threats, Geoff Taunton-Collins and Harry Hoffen, on the bench. But, despite an unusually thorough warm-up, this plan back-fired spectacularly as the visitors proved far sharper and more committed in a ghastly opening quarter of an hour that saw the Wellingtonians race into a three-goal lead. The first goal was hugely fortunate, a shot from distance taking a wicked deflection that left keeper Jon Ingram moving to his left, the ball flashing in at his near post. But the hosts were also the creators of their own downfall with a combination of some shoddy passing and half-hearted commitment allowing the Wellingtonians the freedom of the pitch.

The skipper had seen enough and wasted little time in introducing the two substitutes and slowly but surely the men in the black and white stripes finally began to find their feet. Alex Cater, asked to play in central midfield alongside Lederman and Phil Berry, began the fightback with a superb strike from twenty yards out, arrowing the ball just inside the near post. The Wellingotnians added two more goals to establish what looked an unassailable 5-1 lead, but Lederman then took centre stage in a strange turn of events within five minutes that saw him earn a penalty with a strong run down the left, fire his spot-kick over the bar, but make amends with a sumptuous strike into the top corner from twenty-five yards out. When Harry Hoffen then robbed the last defender with some excellent pressing before rounding the keeper and tapping into an empty net, the deficit was back to just two and there was all to play for.

After the eight goals and frantic action of the first half, the second stanza proved the complete opposite, with the visitors deciding that caution was the best plan of attack, keeping plenty of men behind the ball and waiting to spring forwards on the counter. And this strategy proved highly effective, with the OHAFC frustrated for long spells in trying to score a vital fourth goal. Indeed, the shaky Wellington keeper barely had a save to make as the hosts laboured against a younger, fitter, more physical opponent. The bid to reduce the arrears was further hindered by muscle injuries to both Richard Scawn and Ru Hoffen, and when Nick Warner was forced to leave early to attend a medical appointment the hosts were effectively down to ten men, Hoffen gamely returning to the fray at right-back but clearly hampered in his movement.

The Wellingtonians took full advantage, a superb finish into the top corner making it 6-3 with ten minutes remaining, and at this stage it was clear the result was beyond salvation, Hoffen limping off and the hosts abandoning their shape in search of a miracle. A seventh Wellingtonians goal in the final moments was no surprise, the visitors worthy winners on the day.

Although the awful opening to the game decided the outcome of this tie, the feeling persisted afterwards that time is drawing in on the ‘golden generation’ even at veterans level and younger, fresher blood is needed if the OHAFC are to challenge once more in the seasons ahead. The Vets will hopefully play once more this season, with a second memorial game for Dominic Danos to be scheduled later in the year.