OHAFC V's Yardley Athletic

A great start from Old House saw them piling on the pressure from the beginning in some very heavy playing conditions. A number of good opportunities failed to test the keeper as the muddy goal-mouth tended to kill to motion of the ball. Yardley had their opportunities too and looked quite dangerous on the counter-attack. However, it was Old House that took their chances first from a corner that was not cleared by the defender, the keeper pushed it away, but only into the path of Gary Morris. Guy Taylor and Dan Fox both went close, but couldn't find the back of the net again and the half finished with just Morris' goal seperating the two teams.

More pressure from Old House at the start of the second half saw Martin Butler score his 20th goal of the season from another corner. Old House didn't sit back with a two-goal lead, but continued to push. Simon Charles has a shot bolcked by the keeper a minute later, but he couldn't hold on to the ball and Charles tucked away the rebound. Tired legs on both sides started to show as the rain fell and made the pitch even harder going, but both teams continued to push for goals. Charles had another opportunity minutes after his goal with a one-on-one with the keeper, but this time knocked the rebound wide. Yardley's perserverance paid off with a couple of minutes left, when a great chip lobbed Old House's keeper Chris Johnson.

A hard-working performance and the all-important win sees Old House through to the Quarter-Finals. A Division One tie with Court Celtic. Will Old House work hard and grind out the result as they did the last time we met Court Celtic, or let it slip away in the second half as we did in our first meeting this season? Now attentions turn back to the the league and a tough month begins with third place Arden Athletic. Two previous encounters have both finished in a 3-all draw after 90 minutes. Will the dead-lock be broken this time? Will Old House start climbing the table and really have a say in who wins this league? Same place, same time next week......