The OHAFC Vets progressed into the quarter-finals of the Vets Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Old Tonbridgians down in Kent on Sunday morning. A hard-fought encounter somehow ended goalless after ninety minutes, the hosts missing several golden chances to score, the visitors seeing a Paul Molloy goal wrongly ruled out for offside and skipper David Lederman hitting the crossbar with a long-range effort. The shootout that followed was one for the record books: both sides missed one of their first five kicks, leading to a sudden death situation. A Tonbridge miss saw Charlie Tweddle step up to win it for the OHAFC but he hit the post. It was only when the scores were level at 7-7 after nine kicks each that the two teams were separated: a wild Tonbridgian effort flew over the crossbar allowing 61 year-old Mark Baddeley – who was only called into the squad on the morning of the game – to fire into the corner and send the Blues into the last eight.

The dramatic encounter proved a fitting tribute to former OHAFC player Dom Danos, whose tragic passing a few weeks ago was marked by a minute’s silence prior to kick-off and both sides wearing black armbands. The pitches at Tonbridge School were in excellent condition, albeit slightly on the firm side.

Following a slightly tricky opening ten minutes, the OHAFC began to find pockets of space, especially down the wings, with both Bourke and Lederman enjoying plenty of the ball. Several times the Tonbridge back four was prised open, but each time the cross from the byline was too close to the keeper, whose handling was sound. It was far from one-way traffic, however, with the home side using their target man to good effect, holding the ball up and bringing midfielders into advanced positions. Fortunately, however, the Harrow back four proved equally up to the task, with Baddeley and Poulter in the middle, and Chopra and Tweddle out wide, enjoying excellent games. ‘Badders’ had only been called up at late notice following Theo Gordon’s last-minute pull out, the 61 year-old having just got home from a five-mile run when the message asking him to bring his boots came through! Goalkeeper Alex Fraysse also showed his reflexes are still in prime condition despite a number of years away from OHAFC football, making several excellent diving stops to parry goalbound shots.

Half-time saw the OHAFC make their first change of the game and, at the time, it was expected to be their only change, with Baddeley earning a well-deserved rest and Harry Hoffen joining the fray with his customary enthusiasm. He joined Matt Davies up front, Ru Hoffen switching to right-back and Arjun Chopra moving into the middle. But the expected goal threat from the new pairing barely had a chance to blossom, with the visitors enduring a torrid start to the half. Unable to clear their lines and maintain possession for any length of time, the Blues were indebted to further saves from Fraysse and some heroic last-ditch defending from the back four, at one stage three of them throwing their bodies on the line to block Tonbridgian shots.

Having weathered that particular storm, the game gradually resumed it’s fairly even shape, with the home side taking advantage of their three substitutes to constantly rotate fresh legs onto the pitch. But the game was then halted for nearly twenty minutes when Harry Hoffen went down screaming in agony following an accidental collision just outside the Tonbridge penalty area. Initial fears that he had suffered a serious injury to his previously broken ankle would later prove unfounded, nevertheless it proved a frightening moment for everyone present and Harry would spend the remainder of the game sitting in an ambulance on oxygen. Baddeley was therefore required to come back onto the pitch, the OHAFC reverting to their original lineup and formation.

And following an understandably slow start back to proceedings, the game began to open up with chances now being created at both ends. The Tonbridgians looked lively on the break, but were twice unable to apply the coup de grace when shooting from close range. Having escaped unharmed, the Blues then looked to have won it with ten minutes remaining when a textbook Lederman delivery from a free-kick found Molloy at the back post and he prodded in on the stretch, only for the referee to rule it out for offside. Even Molloy’s marker would later admit it was a poor decision. Lederman then hit the bar with a whipped effort from the corner of the penalty area and at that stage it became clear that only penalties would separate the two sides.

So to the shootout and the ensuing drama that always follows. It was a surprise to see Paul Molloy fire tamely straight at the Tonbridge keeper, Matt Davies and Lederman having already scored. Thankfully, Fred Richardson and Ru Hoffen held their nerve and the two sides finished level at 4-4 after five efforts, Tonbridgians having also missed their third effort. Tonbridge scored their sixth, but Piers Bourke fired delightfully into the corner, forcing a seventh. Ben Durling, a Tonbridgian who often plays for the OHAFC in friendly fixtures at the Bank of England Ground, sent his shot wide, giving Charlie Tweddle the chance to win it. Amazingly, his shot cannoned off the outside of the post, sending the shootout into the realms of incredulity. Tonbridge converted their next two, but Harrow held their nerve through keeper Alex Fraysse and Ed Poulter. It was round ten that finally proved pivotal, with the hosts seeing their man fire wildly over the bar. Up stepped Mark Baddeley to carve his name into OHAFC folklore, firing in confidently to send the Blues into the last eight.

Further good news arrived back in the changing room, with a much happier Harry Hoffen awaiting the team’s return, his ankle swollen and grazed but not appearing re-broken. The team were understandably keen to regale him with what had just occurred on the pitch.

The last eight sees the OHAFC once more face the Old Chigwellians, last season’s winners. The two sides met at the semi-final stage, the Chigwellians running out comfortable 4-1 winners on the Hill, although the Blues were missing several key men.

OHAFC Vets XI: Fraysse, Chopra, Poulter, Baddeley, Tweddle, Molloy, Richardson, Lederman (c), Bourke, R Hoffen, Davies. Sub: H Hoffen