The OHAFC 1st XI put last weekend’s disappointing defeat away to the Old Salopians behind them to finish the year with an excellent, and fully deserved, 2-1 win away to the Old Westminsters on the astroturf at Bacon College Community Center in Rotherhithe. Star of the show, not for the first time this season, was winger Will Payne, who dominated the first half, scoring twice and wreaking havoc in the Westminsters defence. Although the hosts improved after the break and pulled a goal back with twenty minutes remaining, the Blues held on to secure the three points and move to within two points of the Old Radleians in third in Division One.

These two sides had met on the Hill back at the end of September in very different conditions and with a very different OHAFC side – skipper Dan Firoozan using that occasion to recall some famous names from the past in a bid to spark some early momentum into the campaign. Only five players who participated in that 2-0 victory were named for this return fixture under much cloudier skies in the shadow of Canary Wharf and, with a couple of late withdrawals, Firoozan was again left scrambling around in a bid to field a full eleven, despite the OHAFC 3s not having a game. Fortunately, both Michael Brooks and Ali Buckley, who has become something of a hybrid 1s/3s player this season, stepped up, ensuring the Blues travelled with a full complement. The formation was changed however, with a return to the back three that was utilised consistently at the start of the season. Brooks joined regulars Beecham and Sert at the back, with Buckley partnering Doug Morrison and Jamie Jordache in midfield, Payne and Ciaran Jordan the wide men. George Gould made a welcome return to 1s action, supporting Oli Acar up front.

Having seen their four-match unbeaten run come to an end in rather embarrassing fashion last weekend, the Blues were keen to make a fast start here and two goals and a third effort against the post inside twenty minutes were testament to their efforts. Will Payne was at the heart of much of the visitors’ efforts and it was his goal after just six minutes that earned the Blues the lead. Ali Buckley pumped the ball over the top and Payne raced beyond the last defender, heading the ball past the onrushing keeper. The bounce took the ball wide of goal to the left, but the winger kept his composure, executing a delightful Cruyff turn to open up the angle before planting his finish into the far corner.

Six minutes later and it was almost two from a flowing Harrow move. Payne won the ball in midfield, fed Doug Morrison who in turn fed George Gould. He spread play wide to Ciaran Jordan on the right who crossed back to Morrison. He beat two men closing him down before planting a low shot past the keeper only for the ball to smack the foot of the far post and rebound to safety. But it didn’t matter. Eight minutes later, with the visitors all over their opponents, it was 2-0. Some sustained possession across the back saw the ball fed into Yunus Sert in midfield. With time and space, he was able to turn, look up and spot the arcing run of Payne from off his wing. The ball was precise, splitting the centre halves once more, and Payne made no mistake, running on to coolly lob the keeper from just inside the box.

This was the very definition of one-way traffic, with the visitors producing arguably their best half of football so far this season. The midfield trio of Morrison, Sert and Jordache were especially dominant, the latter creating yet another one-on-one, this time for George Gould, who latched onto Jamie Jordache’s pass only to momentarily delay the finish, allowing a covering centre-half to recover and snuff out the danger. Further chances followed as the first half drew to a close, Oli Acar firing straight at the keeper following a flowing move that began with centre-backs Sert and Brooks exchanging several passes before working the ball into midfield, George Gould then saw his superb effort brilliantly saved by the keeper as it arrowed its way towards the top corner. The only blemish on the opening forty-five minutes was a yellow card for vice-captain Ed Beecham following a strong challenge in midfield. But this was as dominant a display as the Blues could have wished for and it left Dan Firoozan, watching on from the side, purring with admiration.

With no substitutes available, the half-time message was a simple one: more of the same. Initially, at least, it appeared that little had changed. Within two minutes of the restart Will Payne had collected the ball just inside the Westminsters half, dribbled past several defenders and worked himself space for a shot, only to see his effort blocked by a covering defender.

But this proved to be something of a false dawn for the visitors, as the home side proved a far tougher nut to crack for the remainder of the game. The Harrow midfield began to find themselves under pressure, Jordache and Morrison now involved far more in providing defensive cover and winning possession than spraying passes out to their forwards. Remarkably, having dominated the first half throughout, the Blues failed to register a shot on their opponents’ goal from the 47th minute onwards.

Fortunately, however, the men in pink found it equally hard-going in creating clearcut chances, with Mitchell well protected in the Harrow goal. As the game entered the final twenty minutes, with their two-goal advantage in tact and neither keeper being troubled, the visitors seemed set to see out the victor with minimal fuss. But a Westminsters goal with eighteen minutes remaining changed things. A ball over the top from midfield arced over Ed Beecham’s head down the left side of the Harrow penalty area. The winger ran on and beat the defender to the ball, cutting it back across goal and allowing a cute backheel flick from the striker to beat Mitchell from close range.

Westminsters threw everything at their opponents in the closing quarter of an hour but the Blues held firm, continuing to defend stoutly and limit shots on their goal. With just a couple of minutes left on the clock, the hosts earned a corner and threw everyone forwards, including the goalkeeper. Unbelievably, it was the keeper who connected, only to see his header come back off the post before being hacked clear under considerable pressure. Tom Mitchell received a blow to his head in the process, meaning that for the final sixty seconds Yunus Sert donned the gloves and the Blues played with ten men. But that was to be the final drama before the referee’s whistle blew and the visitors could begin their celebrations.

Although the three points were fully deserved, this was yet another reminder that few games in the Arthurian League are easy, even when a comfortable victory seems almost inevitable. The OHAFC can look back on the first half of their 2023/4 campaign with some satisfaction, the side still in fifth in Division One but now just two points behind the Old Radleians in third. A busy January awaits the team, with fixtures scheduled for all four weekends, beginning with a very tough trip to face the Old Tonbridgians down in Kent. Indeed, the Blues face the top three in the table in their first three games of next year in what is sure to provide a stern test of their Division One credentials. For now though, the squad can relax and recharge their batteries.