A tired OHAFC 1st XI just about clung on for victory at home to the struggling Old Westminsters on Saturday morning on the Hill, ensuring that the Blues end the year on a high and head into 2026 unbeaten in their last four fixtures. An own goal after half an hour and a close-range strike from centre-back Ed Nicholson early in the second half put the home side in control, but the visitors, who have yet to win a game in Division One this season, took advantage of the home side being reduced to ten men after a clash of heads to pull a goal back with ten minutes remaining and ensure a nervy ending ensued. The hosts just about clung on to claim a third League win of the season and will end the year sixth in Division One, with promotion and relegation both highly unlikely.

Having just about scraped together eleven players for last weekend’s away fixture against the Rugbeians, it was disappointing that once again only a bare minimum could be named by skipper Dan Firoozan, especially given that this was the 1s’ final fixture for nearly a month. Five players remained from the Rugby game, with a welcome return to the attack for striker George Taylor and two season debutants who have been sorely missed: midfielder George Gould and winger Arthur Leney.

Conditions on the Hill were excellent with the pitch in fine fettle and a bright, low sun helping to thaw the last of the remaining frost, shadows from the trees at the eastern end of the Phil reaching all the way from behind the goal to the halfway line. Unfortunately, the early exchanges failed to match the surroundings, with the home side on top, but unable to build up much of a head of steam. The midfield trio of Firoozan, Charlie Bick and James Walduck won plenty of ball but the front three of Taylor, Levine and Leney found it hard going against a Westminsters back four that had conceded 30 goals in 9 games prior to kick-off.

It took a huge slice of luck for the deadlock to be broken just before the half-hour mark. Right-back Harry Bick stormed forwards, exchanged passes with his skipper and hammered the ball across the face of the goal. It appeared as though the danger had been averted, but a Westminsters defender at the far post panicked unnecessarily and ended up diverting the ball into his own net with an ill-judged swing of his boot.

The remainder of the half saw the hosts continue in the ascendency, forcing several decent set-piece positions, but each time the delivery was wasted and the narrow 1-0 lead at the interval saw both sides only slightly content with the opening forty-five minutes. With no substitutes to call on, the Harrow skipper could only offer words of encouragement to his side, the formation remaining the same for the start of the second half.

But with a full complement of three substitutes to call on, it was a refreshed Westminsters side who made the faster start, dominating the early stages and forcing keeper Tom Mitchell into a couple of smart saves. The Blues eventually awoke from their slumber and, having just about preserved their lead up to that point, then doubled it courtesy of a rare goal from centre-back Ed Nicholson. George Gould delivered a dangerous free-kick into the box, Charlie Bick flicked on and the keeper spilt the ball perfectly for the big defender to lash into the net from seven yards out.

The goal revitalised the home team and, as the clock ticked towards the closing twenty minutes, it appeared as though the Blues were set for a routine victory. But that all changed when George Gould suffered a dreadful clash of heads with an opposition player when jumping for a header. Both players fell to the ground in clear distress and, following a lengthy stoppage, were taken to hospital for checks by Fred Woolley. With no substitutes to call upon, this left the hosts having to see out the remainder of the game with only ten men and the visitors took full advantage. Suddenly the pink shirts began to overrun a tiring Harrow side, the recent lack of minutes in the legs for some players only too clear to see.

It took a superb finish from the edge of the box to drag Westminsters back into the game, the hosts having held on for ten minutes without undue alarm. But with the deficit now just a single goal, pressure on the Harrow goal became incessant and only some heroic defending allied to some superb goalkeeping from Tom Mitchell ensured that the hosts held on. The final attack of the game even saw the Westminsters keeper come up from the back and he nearly snatched a point in incredible fashion, acrobatically launching a scissor kick that flew just over the bar.

This hard-earned victory ensures the Blues end the year in sixth in Division One with an even record of three wins, three defeats and four draws from their ten games played. With an eleven point gap to the top two and a thirteen point gap to the bottom two, it is difficult to see the side ending the season anywhere other than firmly in mid-table.