An OHAFC 3rd XI containing new fewer than four goalkeepers secured a dramatic, and unlikely, 3-3 draw at home to the Old Kingstonians on Saturday morning. In cold, wet, windy conditions and on an uneven playing surface on the Phil, the two sides served up a thrilling draw, the Blues falling behind midway through the first half before storming back to lead 2-1 and 3-2 before finally having to settle for a point, the Kingstonians scrambling in an equaliser four minutes from time. The point means the 3s stay bottom of Division Four but within three points of the three sides above them ahead of next Saturday’s crunch clash with the Old Wykehamists 2s.

The build up to this fixture was dominated by the poor availability and the struggles of skipper Joss Awdry and his number two Freddie Everett to field a side. Such was the desperation that eventually keeper Tom Mitchell and midfielder James Walduck both agreed to play prior to turning out for the 1s in their 2pm KO against the Old Rugbeians down in Whitton. This meant that no fewer than four of the final twelve-man squad were goalkeepers – surely an OHAFC record and quite possibly an Arthurian League one also. Regular keeper Hassan Hammad kept the gloves, but, bizarrely, the front three for two-thirds of the second half were all goalies: Tom Mitchell on the left, Fraser McGuinness on the right and the powerful Harison Saunders through the middle. That the home side could salvage a point in such circumstances, and against a team who had already beaten them 3-0 earlier this season, said much about the character of the men in blue.

A fairly even opening twenty minutes saw the hosts struggle to make much headway as they found themselves, for the second consecutive week, playing into a strong headwind from the off. Goal kicks and clearances all struggled to reach halfway and debutant Alex Neville found himself under early pressure at right-back, although the visitors failed to carve out any clear chances, a couple of long-range efforts sailing wide of their intended target. When the hosts did manage to get the ball down and string together a few passes, the football was promising, with the midfield trio of Luke Berry, Walduck and Lederman combining nicely and managing to free wide men Mitchell and McGuinness. But the final ball proved elusive and the visitor’s keeper was rarely troubled.

Having survived the opening quarter of the match, the hosts fell behind in rather unfortunate circumstances when a cross from the left wing was diverted back across goal via a couple of challenging players and a midfielder somehow managed to hook the ball back from where it had come, over Hassan Hammad and just under the bar. It was an excellent finish if it was deliberate.

But the hosts continued to battle hard to stay in the game, debutant Neville growing in stature as the game progressed and proving an increasingly tenacious defender for the Kingstonians’ left winger. And the Blues were rewarded for their endeavour with a high-quality goal of their own ten minutes prior to half-time. A rare break forwards saw Lederman in a more advanced position and he fed Mitchell on the left. Kingstonians had plenty of cover, but the veteran received the ball back just outside the area, faked to shoot with his right, drew the ball back onto his left and speared a shot low towards the far corner. It appeared as though the keeper may be able to deflect the effort wide but the ball skipped off the turf and the slight touch from the goalie’s glove couldn’t prevent it nestling just inside the far post. But Harrovian joy almost immediately turned to horror as the visitors came within an inch of snatching back the lead within sixty seconds, the very next attack ending with a rocket of a shot from twenty-five yards out that smacked into the foot of one post, the ball flying agonisingly along the goal line before just avoiding the other post and rolling out for a goal kick.

The half-time message highlighted the need to maintain effort levels, even with the conditions now in Harrow’s favour. Despite turning around just a goal behind the week before, the 3s were overrun in the second half by a strong Shirburnians side who made light of the elements and there was a determination not to allow the same thing to happen here. Tom Mitchell was given the first fifteen minutes of the half to rest, skipper Everett coming back on in midfield with Saunders now up front.

Worryingly, the visitors started the better and came within inches of scoring from a couple of superb long-range efforts, one that smacked squarely into the middle of the crossbar, another that fizzed inches wide of the near post. But having ridden out this storm, the hosts then took the lead from a corner, Lederman’s whipped in cross evading a crowded six yard box before being bundled in at the far post by Si Nicholson. Back came the visitors, another couple of long range efforts sailing wide of the mark before, with just over twenty minutes remaining, the equaliser did arrive: a cross from the left was turned towards goal with a looping header and it was a Kingstonian who reacted quickest, sensing that the ball may drop beyond the far post and racing in to head home from almost on the goal line with the Harrow defence watching on.

At this stage, with twenty minutes remaining, the balance of play fairly firmly in the visitors’ favour and with Tom Walduck now off for a badly needed break before turning out for the 1s, meaning a front three formed entirely of goalkeepers, the home side could have been forgiven for anticipating a seventh League defeat of the season would duly arrive. But against the odds the home side then took the lead for the second time in the game, one keeper, Harison Saunders, flicking on a long throw for another, Fraser McGuinness, to run through into the box and smash a left foot volley into the bottom corner from close to the penalty spot. Understandably, the celebrations were exuberant – the home side now had just over ten minutes to hold on for a memorable victory.

As the rain continued to fall and the pitch became increasingly heavy, the Kingstonians initially poured forwards with intent, only to be repelled with a combination of some rugged and, at times, fairly desperate defending. The minutes ticked by, however, and just when the finish line appeared within reach, the three points were snatched away in cruel fashion. A low shot was driven towards goal and, just for once, Hammad’s handling let him down, the ball squirming out from his grasp. An almighty scramble ensued on the goal line with both Henry Collins and Gabriel Rogers desperately trying to knock the ball away with whatever part of their body they could use, only for it to roll agonisingly towards the far post where a waiting Kingstonian player gleefully turned it in.

On the balance of play it was no more than the visitors deserved, but the manner of its concession will sting a Harrow side who had battled so hard in trying circumstances. Nevertheless, this point could yet prove vital come the season’s end and ensures the Blues will go into next weekend’s ‘six-pointer’ away to the Old Wykehamists 2s in Acton in buoyant mood.