A last-minute equaliser denied the OHAFC 3s their first win of the season in a highly entertaining encounter played out on the Kings House astroturf in west London on Saturday afternoon, the Blues eventually having to settle for a 3-3 draw against Old Berkhamstedians 2s that keeps both sides in the relegation places. It was tough luck on a young 3s side that had performed well for the majority of the game, although the tension grew as the visitors were forced further back into their own half as the game entered the closing stages.

On a beautiful autumnal day in west London, the 3s started well, moving the ball nicely on the pristine artificial surface, and they deservedly took the lead just before the half-hour mark when the two Graham brothers combined, Adam dropping off to collect the ball in midfield, turning and feeding younger sibling Danny through the middle to go on and slot home into the bottom corner.

But within a couple of minutes the home side were level, a sweeping move down the Berkhamsteds left allowing the ball to be crossed into the box and turned in first time at the far post. It could have been worse: almost immediately from kick-off skipper Tom Mitchell was forced into a fingertip save, the ball rebounding off the join of post and bar and to safety.

But the Harrow man was then at fault for the home side’s second: attempting an ambitious pass into Ed Stewart’s feet in midfield, Mitchell’s intentions were perfectly read by a lurking Berkhamstedian and he intercepted the pass, ran in on goal and slotted in to make it 2-1. Despite looking the better side for much of the half, the visitors found themselves trailing at the break.

Henry Collins and Steve Dickson-Tetteh were both introduced at the interval but in a frantic opening spell it was the Graham brothers once more causing havoc up front, Adam scroring twice to restore the visitors’ early advantage. A strong run through the middle of the pitch from Olly Roberts was unfairly ended, Joss Awdry delivered a perfectly-weighted ball over the retreating defence and Adam Graham timed his run to perfection to steal in and nod past the keeper from close range. His second finish, less than five minutes later, was even simpler, younger brother Dan breaking free down the left before charging into the box, drawing the keeper and slipping it across goal for Adam to tap into an empty net.

The Blues continued to press, looking far the better side for the opening twenty-five minutes of the half. Roberts ploughed the right wing with typical energy, Adam Graham proved a constant thorn in the Berkhamstedian defence, with Luke Berry and Dan Graham carrying the ball forwards with menace and Alvin Adefarasin enjoying a promising debut on the left. A fourth nearly arrived when Roberts’ cross from the right was narrowly missed by a lunging Adam Graham, Adefarasin’s long throw then causing confusion and Luke Berry’s subsequent shot was well saved low down by the keeper.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, there was little sign of the home side responding. Mitchell remained almost a spectator in the Harrow goal, although the visitors enjoyed a let-off of their own from a long throw when the ball found its way across the box only for a loitering forward to somehow screw his shot wide when it looked easier to score.

The hosts did begin to exert more pressure in the closing ten minutes but it appeared more territorial than anything else, the Harrow back four, whilst not looking watertight, at least clearing their lines efficiently enough. Several frenzied screams of ‘get rid’ testament to the growing concern at the change in momentum.

But with time almost up a first win was within sight. It wasn’t to be: a Berkhamsted corner was whipped in from the left, the ball dropped inside the box, wasn’t cleared and a midfielder very coolly bided his time before curling the ball perfectly into the far corner through a crowd of players. A first win of the season must wait for the OHAFC 3s.