The OHAFC 3rd XI secured the solitary point required to confirm their status as Division Five South champions on Saturday courtesy of a deserved 2-1 win over the Old Amplefordians on the astorturf in Twickenham.

In a game largely dominated by the Blues, leading scorer Alex Smith cleverly flicked in a Charlie Bick free-kick to open the scoring just before the hour mark before substitute Oscar Gairard sealed the points with a strike from the edge of the box that somehow squirmed through the ‘keeper’s grasp. A late consolation for the visitors with two minutes remaining never looked like preventing the win. The OHAFC must now wait for next Saturday’s result between the top two sides in the northern section of Division Five to discover their promotion play-off opponents. It is highly likely, however, that a return fixture with Old Brentwoods 3s is on the cards, the two sides having already met in the David Woolcott trophy earlier this season.

Having suffered a 4-2 defeat to Westminster 2s on a snowbound Harrow Hill in their last game, the OHAFC 3s were determined not to waste another chance to claim the point required to ensure they could not be caught at the top of a division they have pretty much led from the start of the season. Following a surprising opening day mauling at the hands of a suspiciously useful Malvernians 2s side, Nick Kapoor’s side have since swept all before them, failing to win only three games in League and Cup.

With the Harrow Phil pitches now being readied for the cricket season, numerous midweek phone calls from club secretary Harry Woolley eventually saw the fixture arranged for the Lincolns Field astroturf where several Arthurian League sides are based.

The 3s were able to name a strong lineup for the game, with powerful midfielder Harry Turner available for only his fourth appearance of the season and towering centre-half Kyle Barrett finally confirming he would be able to play, albeit only able to arrive shortly after kick-off. With the Amplefordians still in with a chance of finishing second and also making the play-offs, conditions were set fair for one of the more competitive end of season fixtures in the League.

The hosts began well and after the game had settled following the initial skirmishes, the Harrow midfield took control, Tommy Faber an especially impressive presence in the centre of the pitch as he glided away from opponents with apparently effortless ease, his left foot displaying technique worthy of a higher level.

The other noticeable difference between the sides was the sheer physicality of the OHAFC. Whilst the Ampleforth side contained a number of tall individuals, the Blues proved far stronger in the challenge, with the Barrett brothers at the back, the Bicks in midfield, alongside Harry Turner, and Alex Smith up front all using their physicality to good effect.

It took twenty minutes for the first chance to arrive, but it was worth the wait as a flowing move down the right saw Fogarty feed Smith and he in turn played in Ned Callander who ran in on goal only to see his effort palmed away at the near post. Two minutes later Charlie Bick launched an audacious chip from thirty yards out but the ball drifted just wide of the far post, the ‘keeper well beaten.

As the half wore on however, the fluidity of Harrow’s play began to stutter somewhat and the hosts made life difficult for themselves on several occasions with careless crossfield passes in midfield that were comfortably intercepted. One such occasion saw the visitors counter-attack down their left wing and cross dangerously only for Ilogu to cut the pass out courtesy of some sound anticipation.

Harrow began to regain control as the half entered its' closing stages, Alec Fogarty an increasingly menacing presence from right-back, and Harry Bick really should have opened the scoring from a corner, somehow firing over the bar from barely four yards out.

The Blues did have the ball in the net shortly before the break, Harry Turner rising at the far post to glance in a Charlie Bick free-kick, but referee Chris Grady blew immediately for a push by the Harrow man, much to his and his teammates’ astonishment.

Skipper Kapoor shuffled his pack at the break, with Hussein Janmo joining him on the sidelines and youngster Oscar Gairard coming on at right-back, Fogarty moving to the left of the back four.

Harrow started the half brightly and having won possession in midfield, quickly broke to create another good chance for Ned Callander. Charlie Bick found Smith and he again played Ned in down the right hand side of the box, but again, under pressure from a covering defender, the forward’s effort was foiled at the near post.

The Blues continued to battle away and dominated both possession and territory, with the Harrow back four almost treating the Ampleforth forwards with disdain. But clear-cut chances continued to prove hard to come by and it took a moment of sublime improvisation to finally break the deadlock.

With just under an hour gone, Harrow won a free-kick on the right hand touchline and Charlie Bick delivered the ball in, slightly underhit. Fortunately, Alex Smith was alert and, facing away from goal, flicked the ball back between his legs and into the far corner leaving the Ampleforth goalkeeper no time to react.

A flurry of chances then arrived as players tired and spaces opened up. Ampleforth came close to levelling from a free-kick of their own that was headed narrowly over at the far post. The hosts should have then made the game safe as they contrived to blaze the ball anywhere but at the goal from a number of promising situations. Chief culprit was Harry Bick, who became ever more enraged at his inability to find the net. Twice in ten minutes he found himself inside the box with the ‘keeper to beat, but on both occasions his first-time shots flew over the bar.

Fortunately, the Blues were given a helping hand courtesy of a horrendous error from the Ampleforth ‘keeper, who somehow allowed a fairly tame effort from Gairard on the edge of the box to squirm under his body, through his legs and into the back of the net. Massimo Taibi eat your heart out.

Ampleforth did pull a goal back with two minutes remaining, an excellent cross from the right allowing a tap-in at the far post, although there were suspicions of offside from the original pass through. There was never any sense of Harrow throwing away the three points however and they indeed saw out the closing minutes with some comfort to confirm their status as divisional winners.

Muted celebrations followed however as there remains much work to be done. Next week sees the Blues play their final League fixture away to Westminsters 2s, who surprisingly lost at the weekend to Epsom 2s. If Harrow manage to avoid defeat by five goals, Westminsters will remain behind Shirburnians in the table and will miss out on the second promotion play-off place.

Harrow will have to await the result of the Brentwoods 3s v Columbans fixture in the northern section to determine their play-off opponents, with the two play-off winners earning promotion to Division Four and then facing each other to determine the overall Division Five winners. Potentially, therefore, Nick Kapoor’s side have another three fixtures to play before they can enjoy their summer break.

Congratulations to the whole squad for becoming the first OHAFC side to win a division of the Arthurian League since the 1st XI were crowned League champions in 2010.