Two late goals in two minutes, including a fine effort from debutant Rupert Stonehill, and a penalty from skipper Joss Awdry helped the OHAFC 3rd XI begin 2024 in style with a hard-fought 3-0 win away to the Old Amplefordians on the King’s House astroturf in Chiswick. The victory proved some consolation for the frustrating 4-2 defeat suffered against the same opponents back in early November when the Harrow attack was guilty of missing numerous chances in a very winnable encounter. But the three points earned here in west London lift the 3s into fourth in the Division Four table and afford them some breathing space over the sides below them in the table. Indeed, one more win from their final five League games should ensure the side are safe from any lingering relegation fears.

Although less than a month had passed since the 3s’ previous fixture, coincidentally at the same ground against the Old Berkhamstedians 2s, the Christmas break had seemed much longer and the Blues arrived in Chiswick with a much-changed squad. The unfortunate Luke Berry, who dislocated his knee in the defeat to the Berkhamstedians, was joined on the sidelines by fellow wide man Alfie Hayes, victim of a fractured collarbone suffered whilst skiing. In fact, only five players remained from the previous game, with the squad of fourteen including three players making their OHAFC debuts: semi-professional rugby player Reuben bird-Tulloch started in a three-man midfield alongside skipper Awdry and Charlie Dunn. Rupert Stonehill partnered Dan Graham in attack, whilst Joe Debiase was one of three substitutes alongside Colehan and Wilson. A back five was featured, the squad balance dictating that more players would be comfortable in defensive positions, Speed and Liu the wingbacks.

This new formation took a little while for the men in blue to acclimatise to but the visitors were soon looking the more able side, switching play well across the back four and looking to get front men Graham and Stonehill involved as much as possible. The duo’s pace clearly troubled the Amplefordians’ back four and it was Stonehill who was rather presented with the first chance of the game, pouncing on a defensive error to fire a shot in on goal – the Amplefordians keeper held on well enough.

The hosts gradually began to work their way back into the game, but found it hard going creating clear-cut chances against the five-man Harrow rearguard who were well protected by the industrious midfield trio of Awdry, Dunn and Bird-Tulloch, who impressed on debut. But just as the hosts appeared to be gaining the upper hand, the visitors took the lead courtesy of a well-worked move down the right. Jake Speed, making just his second appearance of the season, drove down the wing and fed Dan Graham on the edge of the box. He in turn played in Bird-Tulloch who pulled the ball back from the goal line allowing fellow debutant Stonehill to fire in a first-time shot. Although the effort was saved, the Harrow man was clattered into from behind after the shot had been taken, not only eliciting a penalty decision from referee Ron Large, but also leaving the midfielder in a crumpled heap on the floor, a dislocated finger the reward for his efforts. Following the knee dislocation suffered by Luke Berry on the same ground in the 3s’ final game before Christmas, this was yet further cruel luck the Blues could well have done without. Nevertheless, skipper Awdry sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to secure the lead – his first OHAFC 3s goal in his 47th appearance for the side.

Stonehill lasted another ten minutes before going off to get his finger strapped up, with Toby Colehan the replacement, skipper Awdry shuffling the troops further at the break, including the introduction of the third debutant Joe Debiase, who took his place alongside Tritton and Wilson in the back three.

The second half began in rather scrappy fashion with neither side able to string more than a few passes together. Speed had the first half-chance for the Blues, snatching a shot just wide of the far post before Dan Graham then spurned a more presentable opportunity, his attempted chip over the keeper lacking the requisite height. As in the first half, the hosts slowly crept back into the game, but once more they found themselves restricted to pot shots from long range. Stand-in keeper Charlie Lupton, who has now fulfilled the role so often that he is beginning to resemble a bona fide number one, looked certain enough dealing with anything thrown his way, another well-struck effort from long range tested him, but he held on well.

As the game entered the final quarter of an hour it was hard to see where another goal was goinmg to come from. Amplefordians lacked the quality to break down the Harrow back five, the visitors’ lack of forwards hampering their chances of adding to their lead. There was plenty of industry but little to stir the imagination.

But in another spell of play that again almost mirrored first-half events, the Blues scored twice in quick succession just as the Amplefordians appeared to be forging a breakthrough. Several corners and crosses were defended by the Blues, not always convincingly, before the visitors sprung upfield. Referee Ron Large played a superb advantage as a clear foul in the middle of the pitch could have halted Harrow’s progress, but play was allowed to continue. Stonehill, now back in action with a heavily bandaged hand, fed Bird-Tulloch down the inside left channel and although his chip over the keeper was parried, Graham followed up to turn in from close range.

Two minutes later and the game was put firmly beyond the reach of the men in red and black in some style, Stonehill crowning a memorable debut with a superb effort, turning twenty-five yards out from goal and clipping a shot over the stranded keeper, who had raced from goal to block Dan Graham’s shot. Even if the custodian had been on his line, he would have struggled to keep out Stonehill’s chip such was the accuracy of the effort.

There was still time for a quite remarkable miss from the hosts, who finally beat Lupton with an effort only for the ball to rebound off the angle of post and bar, the ball rolling agonisingly along the goal line before being inexplicably missed at the other post, the midfielder managing to miss the gaping goal from a yard out.

So an excellent way for the 3s to begin the new year, the three points lifting the side into fourth in Division Four ahead of their first Cup outing of the season and a more than tricky trip south to face Division Three side the Old Sennockians in Kent in the first round of the Junior League Cup.