Page 58 - OM Newsletter - Issue 43 - 2020

OM SPORT
OM FOOTBALL CLUB
1st XI
The Old Malvernian Football Club enjoyed a stellar end to their 2018-19 campaign, winning their last two matches without conceding a goal to ensure they finished in the top five in the Arthurian League Division 1, just four points off the promotion places.
The end result was even more impressive considering the inauspicious start to the season. Malvern lost their opening three matches - two in the league and an extra-time defeat in the LOB Cup - before receiving a timely boost before the Arthur Dunn Cup first round: a 3-0 demolition of Aldenham featuring
a brace from Alec Godsland as the OMs kick- started their campaign. A home Dunn draw meant a trip back to the hallowed fields of the College for a tie against Old Alleynians. Facing the side that would eventually win Division 1 at a canter, Malvern were underdogs but had the better of a game that finished 0-0 after extra time. The replay also went to extra- time, after goals from Ed Davenhill and Peter Ford looked to have put Malvern through in normal time; only for the referee to somehow allow an Alleynians equaliser to stand despite Malvernian claims of a foul on keeper Odge Davey. Alleynians eventually won 4-3 after 240+ minutes of football as the OMs’ Dunn
disappointment continued.
In the league, Malvern went on a superb run of form, losing just one of their next eight matches, five winsto putting them fin the mix for promotion to the Premier League. The highlights of this run were numerous; Demi Onabawale’s mazy run and finish for a 2-1 win at Harrow, Peter Ford’s last-minute equaliser at Cholmeleians, captain Archie Velarde scoring from centre-back to lead the side to a clinical win at Radley, but one stood out. A seven-goal thriller at home to Radley that was settled by Ayo Afolabi’s late winner, which prompted Old Malvernians supremo Paul Godsland and President Anthony Scammell to
58 | Old Malvernian Newsletter