Sunday morning's Veterans Cup tie at home to the Old Malvernians was a highly-competitive and dramatic affair that saw the Malvernians, the Cup holders, eventually triumph 5-2 after extra-time, Harrow's brave resistance finally crumbling in the final ten minutes.

But the game was overshadowed by the cruel injury suffered by striker Harry Hoffen, who collapsed to the ground in agony following a slightly clumsy challenge on the halfway line with just a quarter of an hour played. Clearly in significant pain, an ambulance was called with Harry unable to move from where he lay on the halfway line. An x-ray at Kingston Hospital later in the evening would reveal a double leg break, with the Harrow man likely to be operated on in the next few days.

Following some discussion between the referee and the two teams, agreement was reached to continue the game on a nearby pitch, although understandably it took a while for both sides to regain their competitive spirit.

At the time of Harry's unfortunate injury the Malvernians were leading 1-0, but Harrow responded well and levelled the tie when Lederman's corner found Molloy unmarked inside the box and he powered a header home from close range.

Both sides pressed for a winner, desperate to avoid thirty minutes of extra-time, but it was Harrow who missed a golden chance - with a quarter of an hour to go the ball fell to Dom Danos on the penalty spot but with just the keeper to beat he could only fire wildly over the bar.

Harrow players gradually began to wilt under the physical strain, with Piers Bourke limping off with a hamstring strain and Tim Dalton then departing with a thigh muscle problem at the start of extra-time.

Malvernians took advantage to retake the lead, a diagonal ball caught the Harrow defence square and a wide midfielder ran in to slot home from the left. But again Harrow responded, levelling once more with a carbon copy of their first goal, Lederman curling the ball to the far post and Molloy producing a fine header from an acute angle.

Sadly, with Malvern enjoying almost total dominance in possession, the final quarter of an hour proved decisive, Harrow succumbing to the pressure to concede three times in the closing eight minutes.

A valiant effort from the fourteen players involved but Cup dreams are put on hold for a further season and thoughts turn to Harry's impending operation and, hopefully, a swift return to action.

The team lineup and match report from Sunday is now available in the results section here.