The Old Felstedians took the long trip round the M25 to Hampton Sports and Fitness Centre to play their postponed David Woolcott Trophy Quarter Final from Valentines Day.

The bare eleven consisted of four debutants, with the OFs only having one recognised defender, it was only ever going to be a game of goals.

Another inspiring manager team talk of, ‘get the ball to Toby and Max’ proved the manager right after McIlvenna beat his man out wide, laying King off to slot into the bottom left hand corner in the fist five minutes to make it 1-0 to the Old Felstedians and open his men’s amateur football account.

More work down the right from McIlvenna won the Felstedian’s first corner of the game. Grayson’s trademark ‘back post dipper’ was volleyed home by King for his second – the Essex part-timers are soon emerging as unlikely set play specialists.

Dennis made it three nil, after McIleverywhere latched onto a long ball and heading to force a chest save from the goalkeeper. The former lobbing the ball in from the deflection.

Cranleigh rallied and quickly hit back through a ball cut back from their right hand side, countering well with their weekly match fitness. Beforehand, a theatrical dive from the #9 inside the box didn’t fool the official.

As ever, football matches usually contain at least one contentious decision. Whilst claiming a cross from deep, Burns was bundled into his own net by two Cranleigh attackers – with the referee awarding the goal to make it 3-2.

Half Time really couldn’t come soon enough, as Cranleigh equalised to make it 3-3. Arthurian League photographer Andy Nunn was spoiled with a great deal of action in the first 45 minutes… some say worthy of ticketing.

A change of system saw Smith steady the ship, but Cranleigh kept pushing on and testing the makeshift eleven. The game was still far too end-to-end and exciting for the English top flight, with the senior players putting a real shift in to cover ground.

Grayson ran the width of the pitch to valiantly keep in a wayward pass on the corner apex, before winning another corner for the away side. Debutant and rugby’s Charlie McHale, inspired by Morley-Jacob’s effort against the Old Salopians in the first round, rose highest to power his near post header towards goal. The Cranleighan goalkeeper initially held the effort, before fumbling it into the side netting to put the OFs 4-3 up.

As the game was coming to a close, a Cranleighan cross from deep kept perfect trajectory over Burns to nestle into the top corner to send the home side into raptures and the Quarter Final to penalties. This was a first in the club’s history, as far as we are aware.

Direct instructions from the manager were taken into practice, with the OFs executing their penalties with precision. Burns managed a hand to the Cranleighan’s second, but it wasn’t until the fourteenth penalty where the bar was rattled to send the Old Felstedians into the Semi Final.

The debutants had well and truly been thrown in the deep end, with a venue change and four hour kick-off difference. The Felstedians had bounced back from having only six available at the start of the week. Notable performances from Holmes and Smith for their defensive work.

A real ‘Garde Ta Foy’ performance.

MOTM: McIlvenna

Penalties:

• Dennis ✅
• King ✅
• Grayson ✅
• Smith ✅
• McIlvenna ✅
• Burns ✅
• Holmes ✅

Squad: Burns, Holmes, McHale, Pritchard, Rawsthorne N., Smith, Grayson, King, Rawsthorne I., McIlvenna, Dennis