The OHAFC 2nd XI produced a stirring display on the Sunley Field on Saturday afternoon to beat long-time Division Three leaders the Old Alleynians 2-1 and in the process confirm both sides would be promoted to Division Two at the end of the season. The win also means that the destination of the Division Three title will not be known until both teams have played their final League games of the season next weekend: Alleynians must now win to ensure they stay top - any slip up at Aldenham 2s could allow the OHAFC to leapfrog them should they win at Citizens.

Saturday's victory was secured thanks to a goal in each half from finisher extraordinaire Jack Alhadeff, who pounced on a rebound to volley in the first before enjoying a good amount of fortune with the winner, his cross from the left edge of the box avoiding everyone before cannoning in off the far post.

In between, and for long spells of the ninety minutes, the hosts had to endure prolonged spells of pressure from an accomplished Alleynians side that had lost just a single game all season.

Playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half, the Blues struggled to adapt to the enormous Sunley pitch, too often opting for the safe punt forwards rather than trying to control possession and, as a result, lone striker Max Curry, playing in place of injured leading scorer Gbeminiyi Soyinka, rarely enjoyed a glimpse of the ball.

But he did play a key part in the opening goal which arrived barely five minutes into the game. Younger brother Ollie Curry fed Lederman just inside the Alleynians half and he dinked a lovely ball over the top of the defence for the striker to run onto. Max initially misjudged the bounce, allowing the goalkeeper to block his shot, but the ball rebounded to Alhadeff who showed excellent balance to steady himself and fire the ball into the top corner with a waist-high volley.

Alleynians pressed for an equaliser but both teams struggled to maintain the ball for long spells in the strong breeze. The visitors were comfortable in possession inside their own half but were unable to penetrate the Harrow box with much regularity, centre halves Woolley and Kyle Barrett consistently breaking up the attacks.

OHAFC 'keeper Fraser McGuinness, playing only his second game of the season for the club, was rarely troubled in goal, indeed the highlight of his half came at the other end of the ground when one of his overhit goalkicks forced his opposite number into an awkward save at the top of one of the posts.

With both sides struggling to create many chances from open play, it was galling that from a rare corner the visitors were allowed a free header at goal and duly equalised just after the half-hour mark. The visitors were buoyed by the goal and were the better side for the remainder of the half, Harrow glad to hear the half-time whistle from excellent referee Kevin Lowe.

Skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins kept the starting eleven in place for the start of the second half and Harrow began the second period in far more composed fashion, playing out from the back with more conviction and purpose than they had previously managed. There were a few heart-stopping moments, Barrett and left-back Hovey both dwelling on the ball slightly too long on several occasions, but in general the hosts enjoyed far more control of the game and began to threaten more with wingers Alhadeff and Taunton-Collins marauding forwards, the latter producing one surging run that took him past three opponents before he was stopped on the edge of the box.

But it was Alhadeff who produced yet another vital intervention, collecting Lederman's pass on the left, driving past his man on the outside and delivering a low cross into the six yard box. The ball evaded everyone, including the static Alleynians goalkeeper, who watched in horror as the ball cannoned into the far post and back into his goal.

Alleynians again drove forwards, becoming more desperate with every passing minute as their hopes of clinching the division they have led all season began to disappear. More men were thrown forwards but the Harrow rearguard stayed strong, Woolley and Barrett throwing themselves into challenges both in the air and on the ground and everyone else flying around covering as much ground as possible.

A strong challenge left Woolley in pain on the ground but the visitors sensed a time-wasting ploy and showed little sympathy. After a few words had been exchanged the pace of the game rose noticeably and it was clear that the closing fifteen minutes would need every last ounce of Harrovian effort to earn the victory.

Ed Massey was brought on to replace Ollie Curry and he was asked to play up front in a suprising tactical twist from skipper Taunton-Collins, Max Curry dropping back into midfield. But the ploy worked, Massey immediately shuttling between Alleynian defenders and forcing them to pass the ball out of play - something that happened with some regularity thanks to Harrow's excellent shape and work rate.

Some luck was needed to maintain the lead however. A slick move saw a low shot drilled just wide of McGuinness' far post and, with just minutes left, the visitors' skipper came even closer to earning a point for his side, smashing a superb low free-kick into the near post with McGuinness struggling to react.

But Harrow held firm and saw out the final few minutes in some comfort thanks to some intelligent football. A momentous win was just reward for a strong second-half display against an excellent side that only last week had smashed five past Division Two leaders Lancing 2s in the Junior League Cup.

The victory also meant the sides had both won their home League fixtures against each other 2-1 - a small amount of revenge earned for the OHAFC following the unfortunate nature of the away defeat back in October thanks to a couple of goalkeeping errors.

One final test remains for the side, the trip to Citizens next week. The OHAFC must win and hope that Aldenham can do them a favour. Regardless of the final outcome however, Saturday's result ensured that this has been one of the OHAFC 2s' most memorable campaigns for a number of years and the first promotion earned since the 2008/9 season.

Many congratulations to the whole of the OHAFC 2nd XI squad.