Finally, at the fourth time of asking, the OHAFC 3rd XI and the Old King’s Scholars completed a football match this season that will count in the record books, two previous meetings having been postponed at late notice with King’s unable to raise a side, a third, on the astroturf in Whitton, discounted after the opposition fielded a ringer. But this time, on a warm spring morning on the Harrow School astroturf, the OHAFC 3s made sure there would be no need to prolong the saga any further, inflicting a 3-0 defeat on the visitors that condemns them to relegation to Division Five along with the Old Johnians 2s. With King’s having struggled to field sides since Christmas, the confirmation of their relegation and the 3s’ survival ensures that the return fixture in Whitton will not be needed, the Blues awarded three more points that confirms Joss Awdry’s men will finish either 5th or 6th in the table once the final few remaining games are played.

The constant disruption to the OHAFC’s fixtures this season has caused the skippers of all three sides countless headaches in trying to raise a squad and so it proved for the 3s for one last time. Despite the importance of the game, with a defeat leaving the door ajar for the Old Johnians to overhaul the Blues at the death, the 3s were once again missing several regulars and forced to scramble around in the run up to the game in a bid to collect a full roster. But all skipper Awdry’s efforts proved worthwhile in the end, with thirteen players eventually pronouncing themselves fit and available. Ollie Connell was the sole debutant, starting at right-back, but both James Gibbens and Roger Litton were making only their second appearances for the club, both having played in the 3s’ opening day defeat away to the Johnians. Felix Majumdar has made just a solitary OHAFC appearance this season, midfielder Sam Dunn just three. There was plenty of experience elsewhere however, not least at the back with Charlie Dunn and Henry Collins forming a strong barrier in front of keeper Tom Mitchell.

Although King’s sit bottom of Division Four without a solitary point to their name, they have actually won four League games this season, all of them rendered meaningless by a series of late cry-offs that have seen the League deduct the club three points each time. So this encounter would not necessarily prove a walkover. Fortunately, however, the hosts made a fine start, earning an eleventh minute lead when Sam Dunn poked home from close range after a corner had dropped invitingly for him inside the box. The visitors posed a sporadic threat on the break and came closest to levelling when debutant Ollie Connell sliced a clearance at the near post onto the crossbar, the ball flying over to safety. But just after the half-hour mark the Blues took a giant stride towards securing their Division Four status when another corner provided the route to goal, this time Alvin Adefarasin was in the right place at the right time to divert the ball in from close range off his knee.

Skipper Joss Awdry rang the changes throughout with both Adam Graham and Roger Litton introduced early from the bench. The former provided a constant physical presence up front for the home side, looking as lively as he has done all season. And ten minutes after the break a crucial third goal was scored, unquestionably the pick of the bunch, as Sam Dunn smashed a long-range effort in from thirty yards out, the ball cannoning into the net off the underside of the bar. To the visitors’ credit they continued to battle away to the very end, occasionally forcing keeper Tom Mitchell into some decent saves from half-chances, but the result was never really in doubt and finally, following a rather torturous wait for the final two fixtures to be arranged, the OHAFC 3rd XI could breathe a sigh of relief.

With the reverse fixture away to King’s now awarded to the 3s, the side actually finish the season with a respectable tally of 18 points that will see them finish no lower than sixth in the final standings. With five of the nine sides in the division having been deducted points for either failing to fulfil a fixture or fielding ringers, the ability of the 3s to consistently turn out a decent matchday squad should be applauded, even if sometimes the performances haven’t quite lived up to the levels of last season.