November 8^th – Arthurian League Premier Division: Harrow 5-2 Westminster

A week after their ignominious cup exit, the Harrow team returned to the Hill to face a team that they had conceded 7 goals to in a pre-season friendly. Once more, captain Quentin Baker was forced to ring the changes as regular goalkeeper James Harper was absent, meaning a recall to the side for OH legend Bert Worthy. Nick Warner filled in at right midfield for the still-injured Lederman, his more regular position of right back taken by Jamie Waugh and Rowley Higgs starting as sub in his debut 1^st XI match.

Although Harrow had the better of the early exchanges, they fell behind to an embarrassing defensive misunderstanding – a harmless cross from the Westminster right wing was left to dribble across the Harrow box and with neither the goalkeeper nor right back deciding to deal with it, a simple tap in was presented to an astonished Westminster forward.

Happily though, the Blues soon reasserted their superiority. Piers Bourke was causing all sorts of trouble down the left wing and although he couldn’t quite gather a loose ball in the opposition penalty area, Quentin Baker was on hand to calmly slot home from a narrow angle to level the game.

After Westminster re-established a lead from a set piece that, in typical Harrow style, was simply not dealt with, two superb goals a minute either side of half-time then swung the balance firmly in the home side’s favour, with Bourke at the centre of both of them. First, a dazzling one-touch passing move on the Harrow right ended with the ginger dynamo playing a one-two on the edge of the box before taking it on and coolly sliding home from close range: a goal that is unlikely to be beaten for technical excellence throughout the remainder of the season.

The third arrived straight from the kick-off for the second half and if not quite a training ground move, it was a goal so simple in it’s execution it could have come from any coaching video. The ball was passed back to Quentin Baker who fired it down the left wing for Bourke to chase and from where, having gathered possession, a cross was subsequently delivered to the edge of the box for Harry Hoffen to fire into the net first-time in his usual spectacular style.

Harrow was rampant and added two more before the end. First, Rupert Hoffen tapped in from close range after his brother spurned the chance to score himself having been put clean through, then Quentin Baker performed the equivalent of an NFL punt return, carrying the ball from the edge of the Harrow box after a scuffed Westminster corner, past the isolated final defender and round the keeper to complete a thoroughly emphatic victory.

Harrow (4-4-2): Bert Worthy; Jamie Waugh, Tim Dalton, Obi Umenyilora, Charlie Tweddle; Nick Warner, Paul Molloy, Quentin Baker, Piers Bourke; Harry Hoffen, Rupert Hoffen. Sub: Rowley Higgs (‘70 for P Bourke)