The Old Felstedians hosted their David Woolcott Trophy Semi-Final at a sun bathed Hertfordshire Sports Village. Division Four Old Amplefordians made the trip for the 11:00 kick off, in front of as many as eight fans.

A late start, due to the referee struggling to park a quarter to kick off, did little to dampen the excitement of the Old Boys playing for a place in the final against Old Shirburnians. The Old Felstedians themselves only having played four games up to this point.

Burns did little to settle any pre-match nerves, by firing his first kick from ground into the path of the away attackers – who were unable to convert.

The Old Amplefordians turned out to be a strong physical side, their experienced heads using every page of the dark arts manual to disrupt the flow of the OF midfield of Smith, Grayson and King. J Burslem also shrugged off some hypocritical comments after a coming together with the central striker.

The away defence were largely immovable and kept Wallace quiet early on, but there was surprisingly little answer to a Smith’s first long throw – which ended up at the feet of McIlvenna to slot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the part timers.

King made it 2-0 to the OFs by volleying another Smith throw past the goalkeeper, but this comfort was short lived as the OAs struck back before half time. A cross from wide fell to the unmarked striker at the back post, who placed it into the top corner with Burns only able to get his fingertips to it.

The Half-Time whistle blew with the Old Felstedians feeling aggrieved to have been denied a McIlvenna penalty and hand ball decision against them.

The second half followed a similar pattern of the first, with the most capable of the Old Amplefordians #7 #8 and #17 going toe to toe with the Smith, Grayson and King in the middle of the park. A resulting foul from the midfield battle saw Grayson’s 40 yards free-kick find McIlvenna in the box to take it past the goalkeeper and make it 3-1.

The contentious decision this round involved McIlvenna, who later beat two men before being sandwiched by two more defenders inside the box without either winning the ball. The penalty shouts were again waved away.

The winger had the last laugh however, skinning the left back and centre back on the halfway line to finish again to put the game to bed at 4-1. A hat-trick to add to his goal against Old Epsomians in the second round.

OFFC were made to work very hard to get through to the final, and will face Old Shirburnians at Merchant Taylor’s School on 11th April.

Lineup:

K. Morley-Jacob, C. Broom, C. Wallace, A. Pritchard, J. Burslem, J. Brodie, M. McIlvenna, T. King, F. Burns, J. Smith, O. Grayson, T. Burslem, C. Parradine, J. Head