Old Wykehamist Football Club

Harry Underwood reports....

The leafier part of Roehampton, not far from the new national tennis centre, not far from celebrity rehab joint the Priory, was where the Old Wykehamist Veterans eventually surrendered their club’s unbeaten start to the season. Old Harrovians scored twice in the last quarter of an hour to win an entertaining game 3-2.

John Hornby’s depleted eleven comprised some regular Vets, some super-Vets, some ringers from Sheen that he’d corralled midweek and a trio of fresher faces. One of these, the otherwise authoritative Rupert Morton (who brought down the average age of the back 5 to below 50), marked his final game before a loan spell in Madrid with an own goal when an attempted clearance flew backward.

But when, soon after, the ball bounced up dangerously in the Harrovians’ box, fellow Toyeite Chris Webbe reacted fastest and leapt highest to restore parity. It was 1-1 at half-time.

The OW’s brightest spell of a game they never dominated came after half-time. After Webbe’s industry on the left, the ball came across the box to where Neil Smith rifled into the top corner.

Regrettably, Winchester were unable to kill the game. A swift interchange and a neat finish levelled it for Harrow. A low, drilled shot from twenty yards won it for them.

Gordon and Georgia Baker, as the only spectators, ate strawberries dreamily on the touch line, with Gordon displaying the scars from having hospitalised a Salopian the day before.

MAN OF THE MATCH: EDWARD JACKSON, a super-vet who is a very reluctant keeper but good-humouredly wore the gloves throughout, made no mistakes and found his long range with goal kicks.

The Vets play next in the Derrick Moore cup ON NOVEMBER 30.