The OHAFC Vets secured a comfortable 5-3 win over Old Foresters in the quarter-finals of the Plate competition at Roehampton on Sunday. The two 1st XI regulars, Lederman and Baker, combining to score all five of Harrow's goals.

On a cold day, but with the pitch in good condition, skipper John Wyn-Evans was able to name a strong XI despite the absence of regular starters Feather, Waugh and Danos.

Bobby Tindall kept goal with Andy Butler partnering Mark Baddeley at centre-half, Bugden and Morley-Fletcher the full-backs and the regular midfield quartet of Thorn, Wyn-Evans, Baker and Lederman. Walduck and Ru Hoffen started up front, with Nick Warner and his iffy hamstring warming the bench.

An even opening spell of the game saw Tindall called into action twice, both times to tip over decent long-range efforts. At the other end, Harrow came close several times to breaking through with balls over the top, Baker already causing consternation with his surging runs from midfield.

It was from one such attack that the home side took the lead, QB latching onto a ball through the middle and showing good composure to go round the 'keeper and slot home.

With space in midfield tight, Harrow's best outlet was Lederman on the right wing and several times he collected the ball from Tindall's long throws to launch Harrow into attack. He doubled Harrow's lead after half an hour following a good counter attack that saw Walduck feed Hoffen inside the box and when his shot was blocked by the 'keeper, the winger volleyed home from close range.

The resilient Harrow back four continued to restrict the Forest attack to long-range efforts and in truth the lead should have been greater at the break, Lederman firing over when well-placed and Baker clipping just wide when sent clean through.

The second half saw Forest in the ascendency early on and there was greater purpose to their play, although again the Harrow back four did a sterling job in limiting any clear chances.

It was galling therefore when a goal was conceded after an hour direct from a corner, the ball somehow squirming straight in at the near post.

With Forest morale boosted, it was Harrow's turn to receive a slice of fortune when less than ten minutes later, Lederman's free-kick from wide on the left floated over everyone, including the back-pedalling Forest 'keeper, and into the net to restore the two goal advantage.

Any Forest hopes of a comeback were then dealt a severe blow following a moment of madness from one of their midfielders. Skipper Wyn-Evans, enjoying a good game alongside Baker in midfield, disrupted a Forest attack and won the ball in the centre circle, falling to the ground as he did so. His oppposite man inexplicably lost the plot, hacking wildly at the prone Harrovian and sparking off a melee that thankfully was quickly calmed down. The referee had little choice but to expel the player and Forest were forced to play the last twenty minutes a man down.

Harrow scored twice more in the closing stages, as did their opponents, although the goals varied greatly in their quality. Forest closed the gap to 3-2 when Wyn-Evans undid some of his good earlier work, being caught in possession in midfield and watching as Forest drove through into the box to reduce the arrears.

As the visitors pushed on in search of the equaliser, vast spaces began appearing all over the pitch and it was no surprise that the home side took advantage. Butler began to bring the ball forward out of defence with unusual composure and one such sortie forward saw the ball eventually fall to Baker on the edge of the box. He slalomed his way through and fired in at the near post to make it 4-2.

Lederman then made the game safe, completing his hat-trick in the process, when he scored in similar circumstances, showing good persistence to take advantage of several ricochets to round the last defender and beat the 'keeper at his near post. He could have scored a fine fourth shortly afterwards, sprinting from inside his own half past the two Forest centre-halves, but his indulgent chip was well saved by the 'keeper.

There was still time for Harrow to concede a third, more dawdling in possession at the back allowing the visitors their third soft goal of the game, but by this stage the outcome was beyond doubt and both sets of players were relieved to hear the final whistle.

To the credit of the Forest player who was sent off, he offered an apology to the Harrow skipper after the game. Harrow must now wait to see who they face in the semi-finals.

OHAFC XI: Tindall; Morley-Fletcher, Baddeley, Butler, Bugden; Thorn, Baker, Wyn-Evans, Lederman; Walduck, Hoffen. Sub: Warner