The OHAFC Vets produced a gritty, determined performance in poor conditions on Sunday morning to earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Forest and reach their second Vets Cup final appearance in three years.

In a game played in rain, hail, wind and sun, the Harrow team controlled the opening quarter of the match and took the lead when Paul Molloy fed David Lederman on the edge of the Forest box and he cut inside before calmly planting a shot inside the near post.

Forest, employing long-ball tactics throughout, gradually forced their way back into the game and deserved their equaliser when it came with twenty minutes to go, Bobby Tindall unable to tip a half-hit shot over the bar.

But as legs tired, a Harrow break down the left by substitute Harry Hoffen saw the ball arrive at the feet of Piers Bourke and he was fouled as he tried to cut inside the last defender, Lederman coolly dispatching the resultant penalty.

The visitors clung on for the final ten minutes to reach their third final in a row, and their second Cup final in three years - last year John Wyn-Evans' side lost on penalties to Eton (potential Cup final opponents in April) in the Plate competition.

The morning began in curious fashion for the black-and-white stripes when the 14-man squad, plus a small but loyal travelling army of supporters, found themselves unable to reach the Forest pitches, the normal gate firmly locked. A short ramble through the woods followed, Molloy unhelpfully suggesting that scaling the 8-foot concrete wall was the best plan of attack. Fortunately, the cries for help were answered by some nearby practising archers and the party traipsed through the neighbouring council estate to the other gate no-one knew about. Rupert Hoffen took it upon himself to inform the group about the investment potential in the estate but thankfully the walk was a short one and everyone was soon enjoying the birdsong, prevalent at this time of year in wooded north east London areas.

Captain John Wyn-Evans had clearly been listening to Russell Brand on Match of the Day on Saturday night because he launched into his tactical masterplan with great gusto, using strange words such as 'defending' and confusing many of the team with his revolutionary 4-2-3-1 formation.

Despite this, Harrow began brightly, playing into the wind and up the slope, they appeared quicker to the ball than their opponents and more composed when in possession. The first chance arrived with less than ten minutes played, Lederman pouncing on a loose ball in midfield to surge forward and feed Piers Bourke down the inside left channel but his shot flew narrowly wide of the near post.

The visitors didn't have long to wait to take the lead however, some stout defending allowing Molloy to break and he fed Lederman down the right. The winger just reached the ball before two Forest defenders, cut sharply inside past them before looking up and planting a side-footed shot just inside the near post.

Soon afterwards, a hail storm of near biblical proportions saw the Harrow spectators head for a nearby shed. Some of the ladies were not to be seen again until after the final whistle, the weak tea and stale biscuits apparently a more appealing proposition than anything that was on offer on the pitch.

But as the weather cleared so the home side began to press and the Harrow back four of Rupert Hoffen, Warner, Baddeley and Tweddle were soon having to work overtime. The Forest tactic of sending long balls into their sole striker was proving difficult to handle, but through a combination of good positioning, determination in the tackle and a some wayward passing, Tindall in the Harrow goal remained relatively untested.

At half-time nothing of any interest was said. Even Rupert Hoffen was unable to inform the team of his need to rush off straight after the game, his Sunday lunch on this occasion being cooked by his captain and not his mother-in-law.

Unfortunately, the plan of using the wind and slope that were now firmly in their favour never materialised and as the half wore on the visitors were pinned back further and further inside their half - so much so that sweeper Nick Warner was nearly having to play behind Bobby Tindall in goal.

The Harrow back four plus midfield combination of Molloy, Thorn, Waugh and Wyn-Evans worked tirelessly to restrict chances to a minimum and Warner was superb in mopping up any loose balls.

The game was nearly settled when Wyn-Evans fired in a fierce first-time drive from twenty-five yards after an excellent passing move involving lone (and quite lonely) striker Dom Danos but the Forest 'keeper did well to tip the shot over the bar.

Instead, it was the home side who scored: a cross from the Forest right wasn't dealt with by the Harrow defence and the striker turned to fire in a shot on the half volley, beating Tindall who had jumped too early and gave a rather effeminate flap at the ball as it sailed over his head.

The odds at that stage would probably have favoured a Forest winner in the twenty minutes remaining but the introduction of substitute Harry Hoffen, who has been out of action for several months with a knee injury, made an immediate impact and Harrow suddenly began causing problems on the break.

Several corners were forced which the home side struggled to deal with but with ten minutes remaining a much better opportunity presented itself and Harrow took full advantage. Hoffen and Danos broke at pace and the ball was squared across the penalty area to the loitering Piers Bourke. He cut inside inviting a challenge and the Forest right-back, who had earlier produced the most exaggerated reaction ever seen to a slightly misdirected pass by one of his teammates, duly obliged, lunging in and sending Bourke to the floor. After a slight pause referee Peter Spelman pointed to the spot and Lederman stepped up to safely convert, sending the 'keeper the wrong way.

The final ten minutes saw Harrow cling onto their lead with once again the back four, led by Warner and Baddeley, working furiously to snuff out any threat. A final Forest attack was thwarted by the vigilant Molloy and the full-time whistle signalled yet another Cup final appearance for the Harrow squad.

The final will be played on Sunday, April 27th at the Bank of England Ground in Roehampton and Harrow will have to wait to find out their opponents, the second semi-final between Eton and Cholms taking place in a few weeks time.

After the game, those who had accepted Wyn-Evans' kind offer of a sit-down celebratory luncheon worked out how they were going to get to a part of London they had never been to before. A full report of the luncheon will be available on the website shortly.