The OHAFC 2nd XI produced one of their best performances of the season on Saturday to deservedly beat Old Merchant Taylors 3-0. Despite another outstanding performance from the Taylors’ keeper, who was Man of the Match in the first meeting between the sides back in October, the Blues ran out comfortable winners thanks to early second-half goals from Max Curry and Tristan David and a third, later on, from Alexi Pittalis. The win lifts the 2s back into fifth in Division Two and should mean only two further victories from the remaining six games are required to guarantee safety.

Despite the side suddenly rediscovering their touch in front of goal, with fourteen goals scored from their previous three League and Cup encounters, the Blues desperately needed a win – the 3-1 victory at Eton prior to Christmas the team’s only League success since mid-October. Fortunately, this was about as complete a performance as skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins could ask for, with all twelve players involved turning in dynamic performances. The only disappointment on the day was the calf injury suffered by Ed Massey in the warm-up which ruled him out of any participation.

Other than that, it was smooth sailing throughout on a clear but blustery day on the Hill. Pleasingly, the dry week building up to the game saw both Phil pitches recover, with pitch 2 almost back to its’ pristine best. But the wind undoubtedly made things tricky, with the strong gusts across the pitch towards the Hill seeing numerous passes go astray. The Taylors keeper also showed a surprising lack of awareness as almost every single kick in the first half saw the ball sail over the touchline and out for a series of Harrow throws.

The opening twenty minutes were fairly evenly contested but gradually the hosts found themselves camped inside the Taylors half and chances duly began to arrive. These began with half-chances: Ward heading over from Kellock’s corner, Lederman curling an effort just wide of the far post before seeing his free-kick well held by the keeper. Then, in the run-up to half-time, a pair of remarkable misses: a terrible goal-kick barely left the Taylors penalty area, landing straight at the feet of Max Curry. He carried the ball into the box but stumbled at the vital moment, allowing the keeper to partially block the ball with the goal gaping. It still ran free to Tristan David but he then somehow placed his shot wide of the far post from barely ten yards out. It was the kind of let-off that can come back to haunt sides.

Fortunately, however, any regrets were swiftly dismissed with two goals in two minutes early in the second half. The hosts had once again started on top and a spell of possession on the halfway line saw Lederman poke the ball through down the inside right channel for Curry to run onto. This time there was no mistake, the striker biding his time before prodding the ball just inside the near post. Two minutes later the Blues doubled their lead with a superb goal: swift play down the left saw Alexi Pittalis feed Will Payne on the run, he drove to the byline before cutting the ball back towards the edge of the box where Tristan David arrived with perfect timing to sweep a first-time shot delightfully into the far corner.

Confidence was now coursing through Harrow veins and the home side looked dominant. At the back, debutant keeper Joe Orchard, brother of centre-half Felix, had shown excellent handling whenever called upon and he then made his one telling save of the game when Taylors created their one good chance of the game, some rather static Harrow marking allowing a simple through-ball to send a striker clean through but Orchard spread himself superbly to block the shot and make the save.

The back four and midfield also combined superbly to block the mazy runs of Taylors’ right winger, the only threat to the home side’s dominance on the day. Time and again he would skip past one or two challenges only for a third and fourth to arrive and crowd him out. In the end, frustration got the better of the player and he ended up dribbling round in circles to no great effect.

A quick break with twenty minutes remaining saw the Blues clinch the points with a third goal: Lederman collected the ball midway inside the Harrow half and looked to play Tristan David through for a one-on-one against the retreating centre-back. Annoyingly, the ball just got stuck under David’s feet, robbing him of all momentum. But he maintained possession well, carrying the ball to the edge of the box before unselfishly squaring for Alexi Pittalis to run onto and sidefoot home first time.

The remainder of the game was seen out with the minimum of fuss, Orchard barely having to make another save, meaning a first clean sheet in the League this season – plenty of PLT points for the defenders, much to their delight.

The win provides a huge confidence boost as the side enter the business phase of the season – six League games and a Junior League Cup quarter-final remain, with the side now looking forwards with optimism.