The OHAFC Veterans eventually overcame a resilient Repton side that played the whole of this Derrick Moore Veterans Cup first round tie with ten men. Despite the numerical advantage, the OHAFC were forced to come from two goals down during a poor first half in which it appeared their opponents were actually the ones possessing the extra man. But the second half proved a different kettle of fish, with spaces opening up as the ten men tired, and Harrow took full advantage, scoring four times to run out 5-2 winners. Harry Hoffen grabbed a hat-trick, with Dom Danos converting from the spot and Alex Gray scoring his OHAFC Vets debut goal, in the process denying an ageing Charlie Feather a rare moment in the spotlight.

The late withdrawal of legendary defender Tim Dalton was a blow, but Rowley Higgs stepped up to the plate, partnering Nick Warner at the back. And the two were quickly in the thick of the action as the visitors eschewed their apparent handicap to dominate the opening proceedings. Repton passed the ball quickly and accurately across the excellent surface, spreading the play across the full width of the pitch and feeding lone front man Rich Basnett at every opportunity. Harrow minds were still clearly not attuned to the task at hand and they were to pay for their sloppiness.

Twice inside the opening fifteen minutes Repton were gifted goals, the first from an underhit crossfield ball from Warner that was intercepted allowing a simple one on one, the second a mix-up at the back that allowed a Reptonian to square the ball past Jon Ingram for a simple tap-in at the back post. Harrow’s malaise was illustrated perfectly from a Repton goal kick that saw Wyn-Evans call loudly just as Warner arrived on the scene. Both players missed their connection entirely with no Reptonian within ten yards.

The hosts were still looking considerably less than the sum of their somewhat expensively acquired parts when, perversely, they then scored a quite brilliant team goal. The move started with Rupert Hoffen at right back and saw simple, composed passes exchanged down the right, the end product a cross from Dom Danos allowing Harry Hoffen an unmissable opportunity on the penalty spot.

Disappointingly, the goal proved the one diamond in a whole heap of first-half doo-doo, with Harrow continuing to cede possession needlessly and panic as if they were being closed down by a professionally orchestrated Premier League side. It was some mercy when referee Andrew Brathwaite blew for the interval. No changes were made at the break, with lone substitute Alex Gray continuing to warm the bench, Repton, of course, having no such decision to make.

The opening spell of the second half saw the hosts begin to see more of the ball and it looked as if the tide was turning when Harry Hoffen was presented with a golden opportunity to draw the sides level when Quentin Baker slipped him through for a run on goal. Harry elected to chip the Repton ‘keeper, who wasn’t the tallest, but got his connection horribly wrong, the ball slicing off his boot and flying high and wide of the target.

In typical Hoffen fashion, he was to make amends soon afterwards with a much harder chance. Harrow worked the ball well to the edge of the Repton box and Harry finished superbly, cutting inside with his first touch and firing a left foot strike into the far top corner with his second.

At this stage Repton were clearly beginning to feel the effects of playing with ten men. Whilst their football was still neat and tidy, their attacking threat had become sporadic, Basnett finding it ever-harder to drag himself across the pitch into the channels.

Harrow, meanwhile, had begun to show signs of life, their passing far more considered and purposeful. Both flanks were involved far more, with Thorn and Feather on the left and Ru Hoffen and Lederman on the right enjoying more of the ball. There was still all to play for with half an hour remaining when the hosts were somewhat gifted a chance to take the lead for the first time in the match. Quentin Baker collected the ball on the edge of the box and tried to force space for a shot at goal. The former 1s’ skipper prodded the ball goalwards but it was halted by a ricochet off, apparently, a Reptonian arm and after a few Harrovian enquiries, referee Andrew Brathwaite pointed to the spot. Dom Danos immediately offered his penalty-taking services and he made no mistake, planting the ball precisely into the bottom right corner.

With the cushion of a lead, Harrow continued to press forwards and in the closing stages began to slice through a tiring Repton side with increasing frequency. Two goals in quick succession ten minutes from time ended the tie as a contest: substitute Alex Gray pounced on a spill from the goalkeeper to prod the ball over the line from barely a yard out, much to the chagrin of Feather, whose original shot looked as if it might still be creeping over the line; then a quick break from the back saw Danos feed Lederman and he in turn sent Hoffen flying through the middle, confidently rounding the ‘keeper to slot home despite a desperate hack from the chasing last defender.

There was still time for further excitement as the visitors, to their great credit, continued to press until the final whistle. They drew two outstanding saves from Harrow ‘keeper Ingram in the closing minutes, the first a flying save to his right, the second a strong palm to his left after initially diving the wrong way. Both saves showed tremendous athleticism and anticipation – words rarely used in connection with OHAFC Veterans goalkeepers. What the saves failed to show, however, was the thumb injury that Jon had sustained much earlier in the game. In the dressing room afterwards Jon solemnly announced that he feared he had broken it once more and his goalkeeping days may now be behind him – a crying shame if that’s the case.

OHAFC’s dubious prize for their eventual victory is a trip to Chigwell in the quarter-finals, with the winners of that tie drawn away to the winners of the Malvern/Eton game in the semis. As ever in this competition, with a full squad to choose from (and with a potential brief return to OHAFC colours for Singapore-based Piers Bourke) Harrow have as much chance as anyone of lifting the silverware come April.