The OHAFC 1st XI finally ended their winless run on Saturday with a much-improved performance to defeat the Old Berkhamstedians 4-2 on the astroturf at Kings House Sports Ground in Chiswick. Two Dan Firoozan goals, either side of a James Breeden strike, earned the visitors a 3-0 lead early in the second half. Berkhamsted pulled two goals back to make the closing stages somewhat nervy, but substitute Oliver Acar settled matters when he raced through a few minutes from time to score the decisive fourth. The win lifts the Blues back up to sixth in the Division One table.

Following five straight defeats in League and Cup, the first time the 1s have suffered that particular fate since the 2014/15 season, any win would have been hugely welcome on Saturday against a Berkhamstedians side who began the day just a point and a place behind the OHAFC in the Division One table.

Skipper Yunus Sert did his best to rally the troops in midweek but once again availability was patchy. There was some good news however, with James Breeden a late inclusion to spearhead the attack and Kyle Barrett partnering his captain at the back, the 3s not in action. Luke Berry was asked to fill in at right-back, with Hovey at left-back. For once, a full complement of subs was named, with Doug Morrison finally back from his hamstring injury sustained in September. Acar and McGuinness, with a bad shoulder, meaning that he could play outfield but not in goal, completed the squad.

As could be expected between two sides struggling in the wrong half of the table, the first half was a tight affair played under cold, grey skies in Chiswick. The visitors appeared more organised in defence with a far better shape than has been evident in recent weeks. Both keepers remained on the periphery of the action, but that was until the 20th minute when a super ball over the top from Chester Robinson set Dan Firoozan sprinting through the middle and he made no mistake, firing into the top corner to give the visitors the advantage.

The game remained closely-contested however, with both sides probing for openings. The hosts were riled on more than one occasion when a couple of their players were continually asked to leave the field to tidy up bloodied knees sustained from sliding on the astroturf – referee Bart O’Toole ensuring all limbs were pristine before play could continue.

Back in the action, James Breeden has tested the Berks keeper with a decent effort from twenty five yards out following some trademark skills, but he was then handed a far simpler chance to double Harrow’s lead just prior to the break: a poor back-pass from the hosts’ left-back allowed the striker to nip in and beat the keeper at his near post from close range – a real gift of a goal.

And five minutes into the second half it was 3-0, a cross into the Berkhamsted box was not properly cleared and the ball found its way through to Firoozan at the far post, the diminutive midfielder finishing through a crowd of players to give the visitors what looked a comfortable lead.

There was some bad news however, with Doug Morrison having to limp off having only come off the bench for fifteen minutes of action, his hamstring clearly still not 100% right.

Harrow continued to press to try and put the game beyond their hosts, Mike Okoigun came close with a header following an excellent cross from Luke Berry – the youngster enjoyed a superb game in what is clearly not his natural position.

But the defensive frailties that have haunted the Blues this season – prior to Saturday’s game they had conceded 26 goals, more than every other side in the top four divisions of the Arthurian League apart from Aldenham 2s – returned and Berkhamsted scored twice inside ten minutes to turn the closing stages into a far tenser affair than it should have been. First, the right winger was allowed to carry the ball unimpeded across the edge of the box before finishing low into the near corner, and then, with ten minutes to go, a cross into the box saw both goalkeeper Sert and centre-half Barrett out-jumped, the striker’s heading landing inside an unguarded goal.

Harrow were hanging onto their slender lead, Sert atoning for the error on the goal with a couple of fine saves. With the result in the balance, it fell to young substitute Oliver Acar to settle matters, he raced through to collect a long ball over the top and finish sweetly into the top corner. The sighs of relief could be heard across London, the goal sparking jubilant scenes of celebration as the run of defeats was finally ended.

It was a much better performance from the visitors, with several of the younger players who had struggled recently rediscovering their top form. Berry, as mentioned, played superbly at right-back, with Kyle Barrett, Chester Robinson and Rollo Hovey also enjoying excellent games.

Berkhamstedians don’t have to wait long for their chance at revenge, with the return fixture on the Hill to be played this Saturday – a quirk of fate from the fixtures computer. The OHAFC now sit sixth in the table, but are within four points of second-placed Repton. Hopefully this performance and result can be the springboard to a strong showing over the winter months as the team bid to climb back up the table.

*Thanks to Freddie brunt for his assistance with this report