Second half goals from skipper Tristan David, Matt Ede and leading scorer Andy Hutchinson earned the OHAFC 2nd XI a 3-0 win over their Tonbridgian counterparts on the Hill on Saturday morning, in the process completing the double over the men from Kent and ensuring the Blues remain in the top half of the Division Three table ahead of the run-up to Christmas. This fixture proved almost the exact opposite of the game down in Kent a few weeks ago, with the Blues asked to soak up considerable pressure in the first half before easing away after the break.

Such have been the vagaries of the fixture lists this season, this was the first OHAFC 2nd XI game since the previous meeting with the Tonbridgians way back on October 11th. Then, a fine first-half display saw the visitors earn a 1-0 lead before the hosts threw everything at their opponents in the twenty minutes after half-time. Only some stoic defending prevented the hosts from levelling, before striker Andy Hutchinson took advantage of some tired legs in the closing stages to fire in a decisive hat-trick.

But here, under leaden skies on a cool autumnal morning on the Hill, the visitors ensured there would be no repeat of a slow start and they matched the home side all the way, stride for stride to the interval. The result was a tight, tense first half, almost completely devoid of goalmouth incident – a rarity for any OHAFC fixture. A couple of long range efforts from both sides failed to test the respective keepers, the hosts finding themselves under real pressure for a good twenty-five minutes but relying, once more against these opponents, on the disciplined and determined defending of the back five – boosted by the late availability of the towering Alexi Pittalis. Leading scorer Andy Hutchinson came closest to breaking the deadlock when he was tripped on the edge of the box but, having picked himself up, was allowed to continue by the referee and, having driven past another defender, fired his shot just wide of the far post.

Having already dropped points to the side propping up the Division Three table, the Old Haberdashers, the hosts knew that any promotion push would rely on them continuing to beat the sides below them in the table and a lengthy discussion followed during the break as to how best to overcome the stubborn opponents in front of them.

As it turned out, the insistence on remaining positive and staying patient proved an astute course of action and, as the game wore on players began to tire, the hosts superior fitness and full fourteen man squad began to bear fruit. The Blues continued to press high up the pitch, led by front pair Hutchinson and Tristan David and play became increasingly concentrated in the Tonbridge half. The opening goal duly arrived ten minutes into the half following good work down the right by Taunton-Collins and Hutchinson who combined to deliver a low cross into the box that found Ed Stewart. Having received a loud shout from behind him, the midfielder cleverly flicked the ball behind him to the edge of the box and David ran on to collect, took a touch before smashing his shot into the bottom corner with his trusty left foot.

This superb effort not only boosted Harrow morale but clearly demoralised the opposition, their doughty resistance having finally been broken. The home side now assumed complete control and dominated the remainder of the half, but remained frustrated in their efforts to score a decisive second until two goals in the final ten minutes ensured there would be no way back for the Tonbridgians.

Matt Ede, having been promoted from the 3s and enjoyed a strong game in midfield, scored the second with ten minutes remaining, collecting a clearance from a cross on the edge of the box before firing low into the bottom left corner. And the icing on the cake arrived two minutes from time from the spot, Hutchinson taking his tally for the season to seven with, it must be said, a rather poor effort that the keeper somehow allowed to creep in after a defender had been penalised for bundling into Miles Kellock from behind.

Another deserved victory for the 2s, who remain in fifth in Division Three in a cluster of four clubs chasing the early pacesetters, the Berkhamstedians 2s and Westminsters 2s. But, frustratingly, the side now have yet another week off and must wait two weeks to play again, their next opposition the Old Carthusians 2s, another side firmly in the mix for promotion.