After a heavy defeat in their opening game of the season, the 3rd XI took on the Old Shirburnians 1st XI in what seemed a very challenging fixture on paper. The much anticipated affair saw the return to the squad of some very big names, with the likes of Harry Turner, Charlie and Harry Bick, Alec Fogarty, Adam Graham and Mike Okoigun all making their debuts for the season. There were also OHAFC debuts for new leavers Oscar Gairard and Joss Awdry, as well as Kierten Saujani.

With the combination of the returning names and new recruits, the mood in the camp was buoyant and the 3rd XI got off to a flying start. The pace of Okoigun through the middle and the ever-reliable Ned Callander down the flanks caused immediate trouble for the Shirburnians' back four. The midfield trio of Harry Turner, Charlie Bick and Alex Smith just ahead of them started to dictate proceedings and it wasn't long before Smith was rolled through clean on goal only to see his effort come back off the foot of the post. This only helped to galvanise the team and shortly after when Connor Barrett stepped up with a Rory Delap-style long throw, Smith was there to guide the ball into the top corner with his head and give the visitors the lead.

The Blues continued to press forwards, driven on by Turner and Bick through the middle. There were some neat combinations down both flanks, with Graham and Callander linking nicely down the left, and Fogarty and Awdry doing likewise down the right, along with Gairard, who was introduced later in the half.

More Harrow pressure up front created confusion in the opposition rearguard, the centre-back and goalkeeper failed to deal with a loose ball, allowing Okoigun to run through and calmly slot home to earn the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break.

It was more the same at the start of the second half as new recruit Oscar Gairard continued to make a name for himself down the right. Impressively, the team refused to get complacent and the defence remained resilient throughout with Kyle and Connor Barrett stalwarts in the middle while Harry Bick was reading the game superbly between the sticks to make a couple of neat saves, while his distribution from the boot was of the highest quality.

Shirburnians then broke down the right and produced an excellent cross that should have seen a simple tap-in for the striker, but Bick flew across his goal to make a flying save that suggested it would be Harrow's day.

Indeed, the visitors grew in confidence in the closing stages as their superior fitness proved pivotal. The clinching third goal arrived courtesy of a delightful chip over the top from Turner, allowing Okoigun to run on and lob the 'keeper with another excellent finish.

From then on the visitors comfortably saw out the game with further impressive defending from the Barrett twins, showing great composure at the back, along with the ever-alert Harry Bick in goal.

It was an impressive result to kick-start the 3s' season with a number of excellent performances across the pitch. The midfield trio of Charlie Bick, Harry Turner and Alex Smith proved the driving force throughout out the game, creating opportunities but also stifling any threats from the opposition. Also impressive were club debutants Awdry, Gairard and Saujani, with the latter introduced for the last 40 mins and adding additional resolve in the middle of the park.

The side will now look to build on Saturday's win with their first home fixture of the season against KCS Wimbledon 3s this weekend.

*Many thanks to Chuka Ilogu for this match report