The OHAFC 3rd XI were surprisingly dumped out of the David Woolcott Trophy on Saturday afternoon by Division Five South side the Old Cheltonians. The visitors, in their debut season in the Arthurian League, survived a late barrage from the Blues to hold on for a 2-2 draw in normal time. The penalty shootout proved an anti-climax, with Jamie Jordache firing against the bar and George O’Malley screwing his shot wide. With Fraser McGuinness unable to keep out a Cheltonian effort, the visitors progressed 4-2 in the shootout to reach the last eight.

With the usual squad swelled by several 1s players, the senior side not having a game this weekend, the tie should have been an excellent chance for the hosts to extend their season beyond the two remaining League fixtures, both against Lancing’s second string. George O’Malley and Dan Firoozan bolstered the midfield, Jamie Jordache played down the right and Fraser McGuinness took over in goal, regular 3s stopper Tom Mitchell unavailable.

The hosts started well on the lower of the two Phil pitches, Jordache providing some early impetus down the right and O’Malley giving early notice of his intentions when he struck the crossbar from fully forty yards out. Toby Speed fared less well up front, unable to take advantage of a couple of early chances created. But his blushes were spared when Simon Nicholson plundered a goal from a corner shortly before the half-hour mark, heading home from close range via a deflection.

Shortly afterwards, Charlie Lupton was forced off with a knock, Mikey Watford coming on as his replacement, and this upset the home side’s rhythm. The Cheltonians took advantage to level the scores just prior to half-time, a swift counter saw Fraser McGuinnes exposed to a one-on-one which was duly converted.

A similar goal saw the visitors take a shock lead midway through the second half, although on this occasion the Cheltenham forward appeared to be offside when the ball was played through, referee Adam Knight waving away Harrovian protestations.

McGuinness kept the 3s in the game with several decent saves and their importance was placed into context when skipper Ed Nicholson then fired in a superb free-kick with a quarter of an hour to go to level the tie at 2-2, the ball curling over the wall and into the top corner. The home side pressed forwards in desperate search of a late winner but were denied by a combination of the woodwork and some decent saves from the Cheltonians keeper, O’Malley and Simon Nicholson the unlucky men whose efforts hit the post.

So to penalties and the Blues took first, Dan Firoozan safely slotting his effort home. But subsequent efforts from Jamie Jordache (crossbar) and George O’Malley (wide) failed and although the skipper safely tucked his shot home, the Cheltonians were left needing to score one of their final two to secure the win – they duly obliged, consigning the 3s to a disappointing defeat and leaving them to focus minds on the season-defining meetings with Lancing 2s in the next few weeks.