Match Report: December 11^th 2004: Old Westminsters 2 – 6 Old Harrovians

The Old Harrovians made the short trip across the Thames to Chiswick and the Civil Service Sports Ground for their last league match of the calendar year. It was a tough assignment too, with Westminsters having shown tremendous ‘bouncebackability’ since being crushed 4-0 by the Blues on the opening day of the season. Indeed, Westminsters were playing for second place should results go in their favour and, on arrival at the ground, it was confirmed that they had their strongest eleven available.

For Harrow, that was not the case. Quentin Baker and Piers Bourke, half of the midfield, had both chosen to take the weekend off. Their replacements were more than adequate however, with Jamie Waugh resuming in central midfield, where he had played so well the previous game against Repton, and young Ed Poulter giving the OH’s a strong presence on the left hand side. Paul Molloy returned from his knee ligament injury to give the side a further boost and Freddy Brunt again made the long trip from Winchester to take his place on the bench.

As was the case last year, Harrow was greeted on arrival by a small, narrow pitch although, in contrast to last year, the playing surface was more than adequate.

Sadly though, the side failed to take advantage of the benevolent conditions in the first half, producing what was later described by some Harrow followers as ‘the worst forty-five minutes of the season so far.’ There were several specific failings in Harrow’s play that were easily identifiable: a lack of determination and strength in the challenge, a chronic lack of communication (several times challenges for loose balls were ruined when two Harrovians converged without warning), distribution that lacked any confidence and a complete lack of ability to hold the ball in forward areas under pressure were all too apparent for the watching spectators.

It was no surprise therefore that the home side took the lead with a little over twenty minutes gone. Several challenges were missed in midfield allowing a Westminster player time to pick a pass in behind the square Harrow back line. The ball was played to perfection and gave the striker a clear view of goal as he cut in from the left-hand side – from fifteen yards out the ball was planted firmly inside Bert Worthy’s far post and Harrow fell behind for the fifth time in a match this season.

There was little response from the visitors. In attack, the Hoffen brothers saw few balls of any quality and when they did, they could not make possession stick. In midfield, Molloy and Waugh struggled to gain the advantage over their opponents and wide players Lederman and Poulter found themselves feeding off scraps. At the back, things looked more secure, although the distribution was often of a frantic and hopeful nature. After surviving another gilt-edged chance for Wets, when one of their central defenders was allowed a free header from a corner only to send the ball back across goal and wide, the Harrovians finally created two chances of their own, both from set-pieces.

A strong run through the middle of the pitch from David Lederman was brought to an unfair end by a combination of challenges, but the winger’s curling effort over the wall was comfortably saved by the tall goalkeeper. Minutes later, a Lederman through-ball was deliberately handled on the edge of the box and another free-kick awarded. This time, David opted to chip the ball to the far post from where Tim Dalton did well to send it back into the danger area. Sadly, the onrushing Jamie Waugh lost his bearings at the last moment and headed over when a goal seemed likely.

As half-time edged closer, it looked as though Harrow would go in trailing by the single goal. But that changed five minutes before the break and once again stemmed from a set-piece. Paul Molloy took a quick free-kick from the centre-circle and fired a beautiful ball over the left-back for Lederman to chase. Biding his time to wait for support, Lederman looked up and delivered an inch-perfect cross to the far post from where Rupert Hoffen headed home from six yards out. The goal inspired the Harrovians briefly and within the space of a minute, they could have been 2-1 up. Lederman this time had the chance himself, but having flicked the ball over his man, could not control his left-foot volley and it flew into the adjoining council estate – a chavving shame.

At the half-time interval there was a good deal to be said. It was patently obvious to the whole team that they had not performed, either individually or collectively, and there was much work to be done. It was suggested that playing the game more in Westminster’s half might allow the Hoffen brothers more opportunities to test the pace of the back line, whilst the need for much greater communication was also highlighted.

Despite barely having had time to put their new ideas into practice, the course of the match changed almost irrevocably within eight minutes of the restart. First, confusion in the Westminster defence allowed Rupert Hoffen to run on and supply a simple cross for his brother to score unmarked from close-range. Then, just over five minutes later, a clinical counter-attack saw the lead doubled. The providers of the opening two goals combined down the right, Rupert Hoffen’s short clearance despatched first time over the retreating Westminster defence by David Lederman, allowing Harry Hoffen his second one-on-one in quick succession: he made no mistake and having barely broken sweat in the half, Harrow had secured a two goal cushion.

It was not all positive news, however, because, in between the goals, Paul Molloy’s knee ligaments forced him off the pitch in some pain. Freddy Brunt came on to replace him and he slotted in on the left of midfield, the more physical Ed Poulter moving into the middle.

But the change seemed to boost the Harrovians who, for the remaining forty minutes, played some excellent and effective football. Suddenly, Waugh and Poulter had control of the midfield, Lederman and Brunt enjoyed good possession down the wings and the transformation in the play of the two strikers was clear for all to see.

A fourth goal was scored when another defensive lapse presented Harry with a simple finish for his hat-trick, as he spun on the penalty spot to fire past the badly exposed ‘keeper to effectively end the contest. In time-honoured Harrow tradition, there was still ample time for some excitement at the other end though, as Westminster grabbed a second after their midfielder was allowed too much time on the edge of the box and he planted an accurate shot past the stranded Worthy.

Indeed, Bert was to see quite a bit of the ball in a ten minute spell midway through the half as he pulled off three superb saves in quick succession. With the score at 4-2, he parried a strong shot from the edge of the box straight to a waiting forward and it suddenly looked as if the deficit would be reduced to 3-4, the netting just begging to be bulged as Worthy lay prostrate on the ground. However, just like Mr Benn in the self-titled TV show, as if by magic Bert appeared from nowhere to throw himself at the ball and smother the striker’s effort to safety – it was a superb bit of goalkeeping.

Shortly afterwards and the grand old man of Arthurian League football found himself facing a penalty, after Tim Dalton had been penalised for pushing. It looked a harsh call, but taking the wise step of completely ignoring the advice of the watching Molloy, Bert hurled his not inconsiderable frame to his right to brilliantly palm the striker’s effort away, Lederman hacking the ball to safety.

Having survived their usual ‘sh1te period’ as Rupert Hoffen once so eloquently put it, the visitors then sealed the points and a healthy goal difference to boot with two more excellent goals. Freddy Brunt had looked more than lively since coming on and having won a foul, watched as Ed Poulter fired in a delicious whipped cross for Harry Hoffen to glance in at the far post. Brunt then combined with Rupert Hoffen for the latter to cross and once the tireless Jamie Waugh had flicked the ball to the far post, Lederman rounded things off with a laser-guided finish from the narrowest of angles, volleying the ball back across goal and in off the far post beyond a bemused goalkeeper.

As has so often been the case, Harrow had saved their best football for the second half and had waited for the spaces to appear before cutting loose with their seemingly unstoppable brand of free-flowing, counter-attacking football. Needless to say however, the first half performance was not acceptable and improvement is necessary if the side are to continue their unbeaten run beyond the opening two fixtures of the New Year against Eton and Forest, second and third in the league respectively.

It was hugely encouraging to see the younger players contribute so much to the victory however, with Poulter and Brunt looking more than capable of becoming very good Arthurian League players over the coming seasons. With a nine point lead and real competition for places between fifteen or sixteen players, the outlook for 2005 is healthy for the OHAFC.

Next week: the Christmas party, the Championship squad photo for 2003/4 and….oh yes, the small matter of the Dunn Cup First Round match against the Old Cholmeleians. Harrow is bidding to reach the final for the first time in its history: we know we will not have a better chance of doing so than this season.

Harrow (4-4-2): Bert Worthy; Nick Warner, Tim Dalton, Rowley Higgs, Charlie Tweddle; David Lederman, Paul Molloy (Freddy Brunt, 49), Jamie Waugh, Ed Poulter; Harry Hoffen, Rupert Hoffen

Goalscorers: Rupert Hoffen (39), Harry Hoffen (47, 53, 71, 79), David Lederman (89)

Magnifico: Harry Hoffen (absolutely outstanding)

Muy Bueno: Bert Worthy

Bueno: Ed Poulter / Freddy Brunt

Vaya Dia! Charlie Tweddle

Leading Goalscorers 2004/5 (after 10 league games):

12 Harry Hoffen

7 Rupert Hoffen

4 Paul Molloy

Quentin Baker

David Lederman

3 Piers Bourke

2 Jamie Waugh

1 Nick Warner

Freddy Brunt