1s begin pre-season with tough Alleynians encounter

Old Alleynians 1st XI
3 : 2
Old Harrovians 1st XI
  • August 21st 2019, Bacon Community 3G Astro, 7pm
  • Friendly
  • Referee: Alban Bytyqi
  • Weather: Clear
  • Pitch: Astroturf
No. Starting XI Goals Yellow & Red Cards Subs On/Off
1 Fraser McGuinness (c)
2 Henry Charatan
3 Ludo Palazzo
4 Alex Breeden
5 Hamish MacIntyre
6 Jack Hill
7 Dan Abu
8 Chester Robinson
9 George Gould
10 Will Bamford
11 James Breeden 38', 47'

The OHAFC 1st XI took to the field for the first time this season, and the first time under new skipper Fraser McGuinness with a hard-fought 3-2 defeat away to the Old Alleynians, the side who finished above them in Division One last season.

With a bare eleven available for the Blues, and two young debutants in the back four, Wednesday evening's encounter on the huge astroturf in Rotherhithe, was always likely to prove tricky. But the visitors acquitted themselves well, despite Alleynians enjoying the bulk of the possession in both halves.

The sides shared five goals between them, three of them, interestingly enough, originating from long balls played over the top - perhaps something for both sides to take note of prior to the serious action starting in early September.

A frantic opening to the game produced little by way of considered football and it was appropriate that the opening goal, scored after sixteen minutes, came courtesy of a long punt forwards from one of the Alleynian centre-halves. The striker should have scored but McGuinness saved well, only for the rebound to be slammed back in on the volley from an Alleynian midfielder following in.

The hosts began to pass the ball well, with the new-look Harrow back four - with Ludo Palazzo at centre-back and Henry Charaton on the right - consistently tested. The front six also seemed unsure at times of when to press and when to sit, with the result that the ball was passed through them too easily on occasion.

But as the half wore on the visitors began to grow into the game, their passing more accurate and purposeful. James Breeden had already had a couple of runs at the Alleynians rearguard but his equalising goal, once more, emanated from a long ball that the Alleynian centre-halves failed to anticipate. Older brother Alex pumped a deep free-kick over the top and James took advantage of the opponents' hesitancy to cut inside before planting a shot back across the goalkeeper, just inside the near post.

At half-time the new Harrow skipper asked the side to consider delaying their press, understandably given the warm conditions and vast size of the pitch. The side settled into a lower block and kept their shape well, restricting the hosts to several long shots.

And within a couple of minutes of the restart, the Blues took the lead with a well-worked move down the inside left channel that saw Hamish MacIntyre feed James Breeden, he turned away from his marker and with unerring accuracy fired home left-footed into the top corner.

The hosts responded well, playing some intelligent football at times, and looked especially dangerous down their left wing. This meant plenty of work for the Harrow debutants, with Palazzo and Charaton getting stuck in and showing good appetite for the fight.

Having restricted their opponents to a few long-range efforts, it was disappointing that the defence was undone once more by a long ball over the top. Both Harrow centre halves were caught under the punt forwards and further hesitation allowed the left winger to run in on goal before volleying a shot in off the near post, McGuinness caught marginally out of position.

And with thirteen minutes remaining the Alleynians grabbed the win thanks to an excellent free-kick curled over the wall by their former skipper, this time McGuinness left helpless as the ball sailed into his opposite top corner.

To Harrow's credit they kept going until the final whistle and looked threatening in the closing stages. James Breeden, Will Bamford and George Gould showed they still had plenty left in the tank as they ran at the Alleynians on numerous occasions, the ball just failing to run for them at the vital moments.

Nevertheless, a valuable runout for the team as they build towards their season opener on September 14th. The Blues next fixture sees them travel down the A3 to face the Old Tonbridgians in another pre-season friendly on Tuesday night.