The OHAFC Veterans began a busy pre-Christmas fixture list with an excellent performance and 5-1 win against Witan Old Boys on Sunday morning at the Bank of England Ground, Roehampton.

As usual, the build-up to the game proved to be anything but straightforward for skipper John Wyn-Evans who saw his squad of 12 on Friday reduced to ten by Sunday morning.

Fortunately, help was on hand, not least in the shape of former long-serving Carlisle United centre-half John Holiday, who answered an emergency call from Chris Hollins and donned his boots for the first time in several years following a serious illness.

With John marshalling the back four in his distinctive northern tones it was one of the rare occasions when the Vets looked relatively secure, thankfully for stand-in goalkeeper Patrick Owen-Brown, another to answer the late call to arms.

On an excellent surface and with plenty of possession, the five-man Vets midfield and striker Chris Hollins up front were soon creating numerous clear-cut chances. Only one was taken in the first half, Piers Bourke, having made the switch from Saturday to Sunday football this season, finishing well after a slick move down the Harrow right.

Several more chances were spurned, Hollins and Lederman the main culprits: the BBC and BT Sport presenter was somehow denied by a miraculous goalline stop from the sprawling 'keeper, Lederman meanwhile looked a certainty to score having been put through by Burley with just the 'keeper to beat but saw his finish rebound off the inside of the post.

The pattern continued after the break, the hosts hitting the woodwork no less than three times, before the goals finally began to flow: Andy Burley and Bourke grabbed two apiece and both scored fine goals - Burley storming forward from midfield to curl a superb effort into the top corner, Bourke drilling a left-foot special in from the edge of the box.

The visitors did pull one back late on following a defensive lapse from substitute 'keeper Hollins but the game was long since over as a contest and in truth the scoreline could have reached double figures.

The Vets are in action again next Sunday, 11am KO at Roehampton against the Wandsworth All Stars - whoever they are.

Vets XI v Witan (4-5-1): Patrick Owen-Brown; Dom McCarthy, John Holiday, Bud Birdy, Mike Morley Fletcher; David Lederman, John Wyn-Evans(c), Andy Burley, Piers Bourke, Ed Thorn; Chris Hollins