Vets through to first ever Cup final!! This was a strong, solid, determined display against a well organised, seasoned Vets team who had only lost once all season and are through to the Hampshire Cup final. To my mind, what makes this win even better is that, for much of the first half, especially, we were miles the better team. Indeed, when Row had their best spell of the game, shortly after half time, the match was pretty even...... not once did they dominate us as we, at times, did to them.

To be fair, our line up was always going to be too strong for a lot of teams- Mayur had his best game in goal, 90 minutes of concentration, strength and great kicking, kiley and parker rolled back the years at full back, and Ritchie and Pete were imperious at the heart of our back four.

In front of them, Ross and Hainsey fought like dogs from the off, winning 50/50s and 40/60s all over the park, releasing Marlon and barnes down the wings....both got increasingly into the game, with Marlon providing a host of pin point crosses from the right that begged to be finished. Barnes helped out defensively as well, once providing a phenomenal block when they were through on goal and another time tracking back for miles, winning the ball and launching a counter-attack. That extra commitment makes such a difference in close games.

I went with two up top a) because carlo told me to and b) we knew that the way to beat Row was to really get at them, and so it proved, with nick smashing the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the area after a quality pass from lee, who was a constant menace to the Row back line. We then had penalty appeals and a whole host of chances but just couldn't quite convert, whilst mayur was relatively untroubled at the other end...... I don't think Row had a corner until the hour mark.

Half time 0-0. Second half Row had to improve, and they did, putting three up top and going much more direct, with the game now ebbing and flowing from end to end. (Two cliches in one sentence!).

Suddenly, Marlon wriggled free down the right and smacked the ball onto nicks massive head from 6 yards out. He doesn't miss those. 1-0 dons.

Kiley then tried to score an own goal but mayur got down to it well, and the ball was cleared. On came james R and carlo, both buzzing around, providing much needed energy as the Dons began to tire. However, we held on and we now play either French Horn- Vets football aristocracy but perhaps not quite what they were (remember the 88 cup final......) or Row 1st XI. Both teams are good, but on yesterday's performance, so are we.

Finally, thanks (and sorry) to Marcus who didn't get on yesterday- very hard to change a back four at 1-0. Also, thanks to cosser, Jim and Kerry for coming down to support and also to johnny whose performance on the line was probably his finest moment in a dons shirt!

Team: mayur, MK, Stu, al (c), Pete, hainsey, ross, Marlon, barnes, lee, nick SUBS: carlo, james r, Marcus

MOM: al