A Season of Two Halves

The OHAFC 2nd XI found themselves in a relegation battle for two thirds of the campaign but ended up finishing comfortably enough in fourth in Division Three come the end of April. The side also enjoyed a decent run in the Junior League Cup, eventually losing in the quarter-finals to a very impressive Lancing IIs side who went on to finish second in the division above.

In the first game v Haberdashers the 2s had 4 regulars playing out of the thirteen who travelled. The game was a free-scoring affair with Harrow losing 5-3. Following a miserable 4-0 loss away to Brentwood (where the side played with ten men for the better part of the first half as skipper Taunton-Collins managed to crash his car en route to the game) and a comfortable 4-2 victory against Epsom, the side suffered a series of frustrating losses by single-goal margins: 2-1 defeats to Kings Wimbledon IIs, the Old Sennockians and the Old Haberdashers and a 4-3 loss in the reverse fixture at Kings Wimbledon. The only relief in this miserable run was an excellent 6-2 victory over Old Brentwoods. The team was not playing poorly, per se, but had evidently not organised itself into an effective defensive unit and as a result was running low on confidence come the turn of the year.

The New Year was a different story. The skipper, sensing change was needed, insisted on more prosaic defending, no longer opting for pretty but precarious passing triangles in the team’s own half. Now the 2s began to clear their lines when under pressure which soon meant the goals conceded dried up: three times the side kept their opponents to a goal or less in the second half of the season having failed to achieve the feat once prior to Christmas.

Adapting the team’s strategy to match the pitch conditions was another pillar of the side’s resurgence. Expansive, passing, attacking football was confined to the luscious, green grass of the Phil pitches whilst more direct attacks were favoured on small, bobbly pitches away. These tactics yielded a series of notable wins: away, a 2-1 victory at the Old Eastbournians on a narrow, muddy surface at Barnes Elms and a 4-0 victory over Old Salopians II on the equally uneven surface at the Kings House Sports Ground; at home, the side beat Old Sennockians 4-3 and the Old Salopian IIs 2-0. Mental strength also grew in the side as the wins totted up, with players keeping their heads held high whenever goals were conceded, a marked improvement on earlier in the season when often falling behind would lead to self-doubt creeping in.

Squad Review:

Debutants

Jack Alhadeff proved a gem of a discovery, providing a serious goalscoring threat, as well as bundles of skill and pace. Jack took the 2s Golden Boot with 8 goals from just 9 League appearances. His future at the club looks extremely bright, particularly if he can lighten his Friday night ‘social agenda’, while increasing his tracking back. A hat-trick on the last day of the League campaign against the Old Salopians was a highlight of the whole season.

Rollo Hovey impressed from the start when a pre-match warm-up on debut against the Old Sennockians earned him a promotion straight into the centre of midfield. He went on to improve throughout the season and with a formidable engine, as well as an impressive first touch, the team will look to him as a leading midfielder in the coming campaign. He was a very close runner-up to Alhadeff in the Best Newcomer award.

Tristan David enjoyed a short spell in the side early on before disappearing to go and find himself chasing monkeys in sub-Saharan villages on his gap year. It was, nevertheless, a very impressive spell with goals and dribbles galore, and the club looks forward to his return, whenever that may be.

Goalkeepers

Kyri Pittalis came second in both Best Defender and Player of the Season voting, a testament to his quality in the 9 League Games he played before injury. Kyri saved two penalties while injured, returning only for the last game of the season. At the Players' End of Season Dinner Kyri was presented with the Bert Worthy Young Player of the Year award, a tribute to his excellent contribution between the sticks.

He was subsequently appointed 2nd XI joint vice-captain, as well as OHAFC fixture secretary, testament to his growing influence in both the side and the club.

Charlie McHardy won Most Improved Player, delivering an extraordinary acceptance speech at the end of season dinner, replete with a liberal sprinkling of dramatic pauses and convoluted ramblings about the season’s trials and tribulations which left his audience delighted and befuddled in equal measure. It is also fair to say that of all the 50-odd players who play regularly or semi-regularly for the OHAFC, Charles would be one of those whose absence would have the biggest negative impact. His exemplary good-to-go attitude when asked to play for any team, in any location and turn in a solid performance in a crucial position are an invaluable asset to the club. Long may it continue Chasa!

Defenders

Will Orr-Ewing was outstanding throughout the campaign and was voted the side’s Best Defender of the Season. He continued to display all the attributes of a top quality centre half – his timing in the tackle, communication and leadership being particular assets. He imbued the team with confidence whenever he was on the pitch.

Theo Gordon made an excellent 13 appearances during the season playing both at centre-back and full-back. His most impressive outing of the season was a Man of the Match performance in a 2-1 loss away to the Old Sennockians, in which he used his strength and aerial dominance to great effect, to the thorough approval of his teammates.

Ed Massey, after a bizarre and uncharacteristic bout of flakiness early in the season (including strange airport visits to pick up unlikely Nigerian relatives), was a stalwart of the side in the second half of the campaign. Not only was his continued development as a footballer a joy to behold, but the discovery of his match report writing abilities meant the 2s’ reports were frequently a joy to read as well. He will combine his important role in the 2s’ defence with additional responsibilities as Subscriptions Secretary for the club next season.

Phil Berry was, as ever, an incredibly reliable performer, never putting a foot wrong and proved a revelation at centre-back, regularly totting up a very healthy number of votes for Man of the Match from his team mates. Regular appearances from Phil will surely be pivotal in the team’s push for promotion in the season to come.

Jack Robinson enjoyed another solid season both at full-back and centre-back and totting up a terrific 14 appearances. He is a key member of the squad who has a habit of producing impressive turns and flicks which still completely startle his teammates despite their regularity.

Conti von Hirsch and Anthony Beresford are two players with plenty of quality who tailed off disconcertingly towards the end of the season. Conti played some of his best football as a holding midfielder with robust tackling and impressive composure on the ball making him a key player in this position for 2016-17. Likewise, Beroy returned to the side informing his skipper that he was a full-back (having previously played as a striker) but actually turned out to be a robust holding midfielder who played with his head up and turned on the ball impressively.

Legendary former 2s’ skipper Arjun Chopra made a late arrival during the season but it was no fluke that his introduction coincided with the side’s resurgence, his excellent communication on and off the pitch doing much to inspire the squad at crucial moments.

Doug Pratt is a very promising young centre-half who quickly impressed with his physical strength and composure on the ball. The club hopes to get a full season out of him next year.

Alex Elwell was a regular at the start of the season, however his appearances tailed off alarmingly in the second half of campaign, with worryingly few signs of a return to action.

Midfielders

Azhar Khan showed great commitment and proved a constant source of encouragement in his capacity as vice-captain, making the second most appearances in the squad during the campaign. He gave the side a solid return of two goals and three assists and will only improve with the added fitness of a full pre-season under his belt next term.

Ollie Curry was voted the season’s Best Attacker, testament to his overall quality as a footballer as he bizarrely scored no goals for the 2s while scoring 4 in three games for the 1s! While naturally a forward, Ollie’s elegant ball carrying and precise distribution made him a luxury stand-in at centre midfield during Ben Kerry’s unexpected absence this season. The side will look forward to Ollie playing more games and building on his 9 appearances from last season.

Skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins was ever-present for the side in League and Cup, playing in 22 games for the Club (just one behind Yunus Sert) and deploying himself in a series of different positions (including centre-back on one occasion). The skipper was voted Players’ Player of the Season as well as winning the Players’ League Table, scoring 6 goals in the process. He looks forward to playing regularly in his favoured position on the wing during the coming term with the very welcome returns of defenders Harry Woolley (following an anticipated recovery from shin splints), Jack Orr-Ewing from a round the world tinder trip (masquerading as an MBA) and the aforementioned Doug Pratt.

Jamie Barwick was another late arrival, adding excellent energy to the midfield, aided no doubt by his bizarre love for propelling bicycles over long distances. Jamie appeared in 3 games, including a goal and assist in the 0-4 win over Salopian IIs. The 2s’ hierarchy is licking its lips at the prospect a full season from him.

George Pratt enjoyed yet another very high quality season in central midfield in spite of frustratingly few appearances (5). We wait with baited breath for a solid 10-plus appearances season from him…

Forwards

Max Curry was a fit, consistent performer, whose shooting remains lethal, whilst never quite reaching the heights of the previous campaign. Max is a crucial forward for the side and will be pleased with another series of outrageous goals. Next season he will take on the role of vice-captain jointly with Kyri - as an influential, wise and often strangely hot-headed figure, he will doubtless perform his duties with diligence and passion.

George Sanders was the third late introduction to the squad with Doug Pratt and Jamie Barwick. George showed great promise: his speed and fitness proving a nuisance to opposition defenders.

Mike Okoigun is still famously brimming with strength and speed and his introduction also coincided with an upturn in the team’s fortunes – his important contributions were greatly appreciated by the whole squad, not least when he very admirably risked his injured hamstring for a crucial game against relegation rivals Old Salopian IIs – the game was won with Mike providing a crucial assist in the process.

Yunus Sert, Hugo Trower, Giles Newton and Alex Smith all added some welcome quality with three appearances each during the course of the season in addition to their commitments with other sides.

*Season report and squad assessment kindly provided by skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins