The OHAFC 1st XI returned to action following their month-long winter break in some style as three goals in the opening quarter of an hour put paid to any hopes Division One bottom-dwellers the Old Reptonians had of causing an upset. Once again, leading scorer James Breeden was the catalyst for the victory, scoring two and creating the third of the early goals before a late double from Josh Adejokun secured a 5-2 win in what was, for the most part, a scrappy game played in tricky conditions. The win lifts the OHAFC into third in the table with six games remaining and just a point outside the promotion places.

Having not played since a comfortable 6-2 win over the Old Malvernians on December 9th, Saturday’s trip to Merchant Taylors School to face Repton provided a potential banana skin in the Blues’ quest to return to the elite level of Arthurian League football at the first time of asking. With the notoriously heavy, sloping pitch to contend with and the excesses of Christmas and New Year still lingering, the three points could not be taken for granted, despite the opposition’s poor record of just a single win from six League outings this season.

Fortunately, availability for Harrow was good, with only vice-captain Fred Richardson and midfielders Chester Robinson and Dan Firoozan unable to make the trip. Alex Gilbert returned up front looking lean and hungry – the result of some warm-weather training in Cape Town over the festive period. Geoff Taunton-Collins and Tass von Hirsch were both named in a 1s squad for the first time this season, with the former starting at right-back, the latter named on the bench alongside Archie Maxwell. The 4-3-3 formation that has become the weapon of choice for the 1s this season allowed Freddie Brunt and James Breeden to complete a stellar front trio, Breeden on the cusp of a goalscoring record since club statistics began in 2009 that would see him replace Harry Hoffen as the leading 1s scorer in a single season – James had matched Harry’s total of 17 with a double against the Malvernians in the previous game, continuing a remarkable run that has seen him score in every game he has played this season, both League and Cup.

And sure enough, despite the hosts actually looking the more composed side in the early skirmishes, it took just a quarter of an hour for the 22 year-old to decisively turn the game in Harrow’s favour. From almost nowhere he carried the ball past several defenders before firing home left-footed via a slight deflection. Moments later he was at it again, carrying the ball past one defender, staying on his feet despite a clumsy challenge, before squaring for older brother Alex to tap in from barely a yard out.

Repton were stunned but their plight was to worsen five minutes later, although this time courtesy of a slice of luck. A strong run from Adejokun down the left was unfairly halted and James Breeden stepped up to deliver an inswinging cross. The ball curled agonisingly away from the onrushing Harrovians but continued untouched on its’ path across the box, nestling perfectly inside the far post, the Repton ‘keeper standing motionless on his line.

To Repton’s credit, and to some surprise of those watching given the clear gap in technical ability between the two teams, the hosts did recover their composure and much of the remainder of the half was an even contest, the heavy pitch clearly making neat one and two-touch football tricky.

Just before the half-hour mark a rare Repton attack should have resulted in them pulling a goal back from the spot, Hamish MacIntyre adjudged to have blocked off his man, although in truth it seemed impossible for the youngster to get out of the way of the attacker. Fortunately the penalty, although confidently struck, was arrowed just wide of the post. Fraser McGuinness later claimed that his special mind tricks had distracted the Repton skipper, although when asked why he hadn’t moved to try and save the shot, his reply of ‘ I thought he was going down the middle’ provided more questions than answers…

Regardless, Repton continued to search for a way back into the game against an increasingly frustrated Harrow side. Passes were being placed astray and there appeared little connection between the front three, with two players starved of possession on the touchlines and the third isolated in a central area.

The hosts came close again to scoring when a free header from a corner flew just over the crossbar but as the general standard of play deteriorated so did the goalmouth action, with neither ‘keeper troubled in the ten minutes before the break.

The second half began as the first had ended with neither side able to master the conditions sufficiently to impose themselves on their opponents. The visitors appeared strangely unwilling to play a more direct style given the circumstances, with open spaces on either flank ignored whilst the ball was fired around the midfield at a frantic pace.

Freddie Brunt had the best chance of the early stages when he was played in down the right hand side of the box but the angle was an acute one and the striker screwed his effort wide of the far post. Repton responded with an effort of their own, a long-range shot that saw McGuinness acrobatically dive to his right to tip the ball round the post. The save helped dispel any notion that a late night at the casino was not the best way to prepare for such an important fixture.

Given the paucity of football being played and the comfortable lead the visitors had enjoyed since the first quarter of an hour, the threat of the closing stages providing any excitement for those watching seemed minimal. But as both sides tired, spaces began to open up and with twenty minutes remaining the game suddenly sprang to life.

Repton pulled a goal back their efforts had deserved when Harrow carelessly gave the ball away on the edge of their own box trying to launch a counter attack. As the cross came in, defenders appealed for offside, but referee Peter Dace remained unmoved and the bouncing ball was thumped gleefully home with fine technique, the Reptonian swivelling on the penalty spot to give a decent impression of Mark Hughes in his pomp.

Almost straight from the re-start, the visitors restored their advantage thanks to some persistent play from Adejokun, who carried the ball into the box at pace, before forcing defender and goalkeeper into a calamitous collision, the ball rolling clear for Josh to smash home from a yard out.

A couple of minutes later, with Harrow suddenly having raised the tempo of their game, Adejokun and James Breeden nearly combined for a superb goal, the former crossing from the right for the latter to volley on the turn towards the far post. The Repton ‘keeper dived low to his left to turn the ball onto the post and away for a corner.

But a momentary lapse from the visitors then saw Repton reduce the arrears once more. Maxwell lost possession midway inside the Repton half and the hosts, wearing a curious dark grey and pink kit, poured forwards down their right. The ball was squared into the box and McGuinness did well to parry the fiercely-hit first-time shot, only to see the ball fly straight into the retreating Geoff Taunton-Collins and ricochet into an empty net.

There was still time for a seventh goal and it was Adejokun again who scored it, taking advantage of a neat combination between the two Breeden’s: Alex’s free-kick to the far post was returned across the box courtesy of a cushioned volley from James and Josh was on hand to tap in from close range after the ‘keeper’s weak attempt at a save.

So a comfortable win for the Blues in tricky conditions. Although the quality of play left a bit to be desired, the result was a positive one and will hopefully have rid the team of any rustiness from the winter break ahead of next weekend’s vital trip to Berkhamsted. Two points separate the two teams, with Harrow knowing that six wins from six will see them claim the second promotion spot. Defeat on Saturday and Berks will be firmly in control of their own destiny.