The OHAFC 3rd XI were already guaranteed top spot in Division Five South prior to Saturday’s trip to Brunel University in Uxbridge but that didn’t prevent them from turning on the style and exacting a small measure of revenge over a Westminsters 2s side that had the temerity to beat them 4-2 on the Hill just a few weeks ago. The Blues scored four, missed plenty more, and strung together some lovely passages of play throughout as they warmed up for next week’s crucial promotion play-off with Old Brentwoods 3s.

On a beautiful spring afternoon, and in sharp contrast to the freezing, snowy conditions that prevailed throughout these teams’ previous encounter, the visitors began the game wonderfully, spraying the ball around the lush turf with confidence and precision. For a quarter of an hour Harrow were camped inside the Westminsters half and should have taken the lead: Fogarty fed Callander down the right but the alert Wests’ ‘keeper sprung off his line to foil the shot; a cunning flick over the top from Alex Breeden then created another shooting opportunity but again the effort was parried. At this stage a comfortable afternoon looked on the cards, especially with the hosts, for some unknown reason, keeping their captain and star striker warming the sidelines.

But that decision looked less foolhardy when the hosts scored from their first attack of the game. A long ball over the top forced Chuka Ilogu into a decision and he raced from his line, colliding with the onrushing Westminster striker. The ball ran free and, with an unguarded goal in front of him, the midfielder took his chance well, curling the ball first-time from forty yards into the net. Ilogu stayed down and was helped from the pitch, his right arm in some pain. With Kapoor, Richards and Smith on the bench there was really only one choice to don the gloves, the six foot-plus Smith, somewhat reluctantly, taking over in goal.

The goal briefly interrupted Harrow’s rhythm and for a while their level of play dropped. Normal service was resumed soon enough however, with Owen-Edmunds down the left and Olly Roberts down the right heavily involved. Numerous corners and long-throws were forced, Connor Barrett launching the ball Rory Delap-style on each occasion. It was from a corner that the Blues sourced their equaliser however, Harry Bick delivering to the penalty spot for Kyle Barrett to head home.

The hosts’ dominance continued for the rest of the half with Smith largely untroubled in the Harrow goal. Owen-Edmunds continued to drive at his full-back regularly, producing a number of crosses and shots. Ned Callander then had a golden opportunity to score Harrow’s second when he was played through by Olly Roberts only for the ‘keeper to again block the striker’s effort. A rising shot from Roberts himself flew just over the bar and was the visitors’ final chance of the half. The one-sided nature of the game continued in the second half but this time the goals that should have been scored in the first half duly arrived. Ten minutes after the break Callander did find the net, turning in following further good work from Owen-Edmunds down the left.

With an hour gone, skipper Nick Kapoor took some pity on Smith and allowed him a run out of goal, Harry Turner taking over between the sticks.

The change did little to change the course of the game however, with Harrow in control and firmly on course for their eleventh League win of the season. They were made to wait until the last ten minutes to make sure of the points however, but the third goal, when it did arrive, was a beauty. Alex Breeden nutmegged two players and beat a third before feeding Owen-Edmunds and he made no mistake, firing into the top corner.

And in the final moments Alec Fogarty scored his first goal of the season in unusual circumstances when Harrow broke forwards from a Westminsters corner, Callander fed the right-back, who looked suspiciously offside, and he planted the ball into an empty net, the Westminsters goalie having previously gone up for the set-piece.

It was a hugely encouraging performance from the 3s ahead of the biggest game of their season next weekend: the promotion play-off tie with Brentwoods 3s at Merchants Taylors School. Victory, against a side they have already beaten 3-1 in the Cup earlier this season, will see Nick Kapoor’s men playing Division Four football next season. The defeat also confirms Westminsters’ third-place finish in the division, with Old Shirburnians meeting Old Columbans in the other play-off to decide who will go up.

The Blues finish their regular season with a hugely impressive record of 11 wins and a draw from 14 games, although one of the wins has been chalked off following Malvern 2s folding earlier in the season. Just one final test remains for the side to claim the promotion their efforts have fully deserved.