HASLEMERE Hockey Club are celebrating their first-ever success in a national cup competition after beating Mill Hill 2-0 in the English Hockey Association Vase final at Milton Keynes on Sunday.
The EHA Vase, the equivalent of soccer's FA Vase, is open to clubs which play at, or up to, County Division One level.
Haslemere's achievement is all the greater, considering the string of tough away matches they had to negotiate in the earlier rounds – Marlow,Daventry, Weymouth (the holders), Manchester and Paignton.
The Hampshire Division One side were roared to victory by a large travelling band of supporters and the inspiration behind their stirring performance was club captain and coach Dhiren Patel, whose experience and expertise brought the best out of a dedicated squad of players.