A makeshift squad of thirteen helped the OHAFC 1st XI secure promotion back into the Premier Division of the Arthurian League with hard-fought 4-1 win at Malvern.

Skipper Ed Poulter endured a torrid week trying to cobble together a group of players to travel to Uxbridge with a number of regulars injured or away, including the only ever-present this season: winger David Lederman was trekking through the Puerto Rican rain forest as the game kicked off. Veterans and players who haven't featured for the club in several seasons were issued with a rallying cry and the outcome was one of the most eclectic squads named by a 1st XI skipper for many seasons: Henry Francklin has not featured for the club for several seasons and played just six times for the 2nd XI in the past seven seasons; Nick Warner was set to play his first game for the side since the 2011/12 season and in the process become the oldest 1st XI player in the past decade; Phil Berry and David Griffiths were both included for the first time this season but, remarkably, goalkeeper Griffiths was selected on the right wing!

Fortunately the remainder of the squad was filled with regulars and with the knowledge that a win would guarantee promotion back to the Premier Division, there was no shortage of motivation.

The Malvern pitch is in the middle of an athletics track at Brunel University and a number of athletes trained around it during the team warm-up. After a surreal conversation with Lindford Christie, where skipper Ed Poulter requested that the ex-Olympian gold medalist blow his whistle twice to start his training races so as to avoid any confusion with the referee, the game kicked off.

Both sides failed to settle and struggled to adapt to the enormous pitch for the first ten minutes with Malvern having the better of the few limited chances, Harrow struggling to maintain a solid defensive shape, unsurprisingly given the unfamiliar nature of the lineup.

After half an hour of toiling, the visitors were grateful to take the lead thanks to a fine through-ball from Fred Richardson that picked out Harry Hoffen through the middle and he fired into the bottom right corner for his eighth League goal of the season. The goal proved to be the difference between the sides at the break although the visitors gradually found their rhythm and looked more threatening as the half wore on.

Harrow began the second half well, David Griffiths performing excellently in his unfamiliar midfield role alongside an energetic Nick Scarborough. Nick Warner was introduced on the hour mark, the 45 year-old veteran surely believing his 1st XI playing days were behind him.

Malvern drew level against the run of play in one of their few attacks but fortunately the scores were level for only a short while, the visitors scoring their second on the hour mark after a fine cross that invited Hugo Trower to power home a header from close range.

Harry Hoffen then scored his second and Harrow's third courtesy of a toe poke after great work from Scarborough and Hill. As Malvern tired and the game opened up, the excellent Scarborough put the game to bed with another powerful header from inside the six yard box in the closing moments to put the icing on the cake.

The Blues performed most creditably given the makeshift nature of the side and have secured the first of their two pre-season targets with three games to spare. The second, winning the Division One title, will be tricky and will require the team to win their last three games by heavy margins - even that might not be enough.

The side now enjoy their Easter break and return to action on April 2nd with a short trip to the astroturf surface in Twickenham where they faced Winchester earlier in the season. This time their opponents are Radley, bizarrely a side they have yet to play this season following the late postponement of the home fixture a few weeks ago.

Thanks to the skipper for helping to compile this report