Two early goals from winger Alfie Hayes and a superb free-kick from skipper Joss Awdry midway through the second half saw the OHAFC 3rd XI secure a memorable 3-2 victory away to the Old Brentwoods 3s on Saturday morning and a first ever place in the final of the David Woolcott Trophy. Having led 2-0 and 3-1 midway through both halves, the Blues were forced to withstand a late bombardment from the hosts, Brentwoods pulling a second goal back with ten minutes remaining and laying siege to the Harrow goal. But the visitors gallantly repelled every attack to ensure a first ever appearance of an OHAFC side at Finals Day on April 20th and with it the chance to secure a first ever piece of silverware for the OHAFC 3rd XI.

Having not played for almost a month, with their previous fixture the quarter-final win away to the Old Canfordians on March 9th, the OHAFC could have been forgiven for approaching this semi-final against Brentwoods with more than a hint of trepidation. The two sides have already met twice in the League this season, with the men from Essex running out comfortable winners on both occasions: an 8-2 mauling on the Hill back in late October was followed up by an almost identical 7-2 thrashing on the final weekend in January at the Old Brentwoods Club. Indeed, OHAFC sides have travelled to face Brentwoods sides on their ground on no fewer than three occasions prior to this semi-final, with the OHAFC 2nd XI suffering a 6-1 League defeat on the opening day of the season to Brentwoods 2s and a 4-2 Junior League Cup defeat to the side the 3s now faced before them.

In light of this, skipper Joss Awdry took the not unreasonable decision to try to stay in the game as long as possible by fielding a back five, lining himself up alongside Charlie Dunn and Si Nicholson in the middle, with Liu the right wing-back and Kenderdine-Davies on the left. Ibi Akhtar returned to the midfield alongside Tobi Adebayo and Dan Graham, with Hayes and Adefarasin the front two. Colehan, Stonehill and Adam Graham provided plenty of options from the bench.

Conditions were about as decent as they’re ever going to be at the notoriously tricky Brentwoods ground, the pitch far firmer than when the OHAFC 2s had previously suffered an ignominious Junior League Cup exit back in January. But any thoughts of a similar struggle for the 3s were promptly dispelled in a magnificent opening half-hour that saw the visitors open up a two-goal lead that could so easily have been three. Brentwoods were shocked to concede the first after only five minutes, some fine interplay in the middle allowing Adefarasin to square to his strike partner Hayes to bury past the keeper. The same pair then repeated the feat ten minutes later, again slicing through a stunned Brentwoods back line for Hayes to score his and his side’s second. It really should have been three just prior to the half-hour mark when the roles were reversed, Hayes this time squaring for Adefarasin and what looked a certain goal, only for the Brentwoods keeper to pull off a superb instinctive save from point-blank range, keeping his side in the tie in the process.

It was this save that finally spurred the home side into life. Gradually the men in white began to gain control of the midfield although the visitors’ back five remained well-organised in their positioning and resolute as the hosts began to threaten. Brentwoods did pull one goal back just before the break, but there was more than a hint of good fortune about it as a handball in midfield was somehow missed by the referee and the forward was allowed to continue on his way, bundling through the final couple of challenges before slotting past a helpless Mitchell in the Harrow goal.

The skipper shuffled his pack at the break, with both Colehan and Stonehill thrust into the action. The opening twenty minutes of the second half proved relatively even with the hosts firing long balls forwards but the Harrow back five once more staying strong. The midfield duo of Akhtar and Adebayo also proved pivotal in restricting opportunities for the hosts whilst Hayes and Adefarasin continued to threaten on the break.

With chances at a premium and the game entering the final twenty-five minutes, a fourth goal was likely to prove crucial and when it arrived it did so in style. Adefarasin held the ball up strongly on the edge of the box and was kicked from behind, the referee immediately blowing for a foul. Up stepped skipper Joss Awdry to deliver a perfectly flighted effort over the wall and into the top corner, beyond the despairing dive of the Brentwoods keeper.

With time running out and hopes of a Cup final evaporating in front of them, the Brentwoods players threw everything at their opponents, their frustration clear for all to see. Play was now concentrated in the Harrow half but again the Blues defended superbly and kept their composure in light of some intense provocation from their opponents. The hosts did pull a second goal back with ten minutes remaining but again the visitors were left more than a little frustrated, feeling that the shot that eventually beat Mitchell had deflected off a Brentwoods player standing in an offside position.

But the goal stood and that set the scene for an enthralling climax to the Cup tie, Brentwoods surging forwards in wave after wave of pressure only to be held off by a watertight Harrow defensive line. Corners and free-kicks bombarded the Harrow penalty area but still the blue shirts stood strong, the final whistle greeted with a roar of celebration and relief in equal measure. The significance of the win cannot be overstated, given both the OHAFC’s record in Essex, the standard of their opposition and the fact it provides the side with a first ever Cup final.

The Blues will now face the Old Berkhamstedians 2s at Merchant Taylors on Saturday April 20th, the side just ninety minutes from glory.