The OHAFC 1st XI’s promising three-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end on Saturday morning as Division One leaders the Old Foresters visited the Hill and left with a comfortable 3-0 victory. Although the final score was perhaps rather harsh on the hosts, who battled hard and created some promising positions, the men from north London proved far more clinical in both penalty areas, even allowing for a freakish opening goal.

This was always likely to prove the sternest test of the season so far for Dan Firoozan’s men and so it proved. A strong squad of thirteen was available with the skipper once more allowing others the chance to shine and taking his place on the subs bench alongside debutant Gab Rogers. Jack Dolbey retained his place at left-back with a midfield trio of Ali Buckley, James Walduck and Cameron Mahal. John Koutalides, Jasper Gray and George Taylor formed a youthful, exciting attacking triumvirate.

Foresters achieved the unusual double last season of winning the Arthur Dunn Cup but being relegated without winning a single League game. Given their unbeaten start to this season in Division One, it would appear promotion back into the top flight is their main objective this time around.

But on an immaculate Phil pitch it was the hosts who made the brighter start, Buckley throwing himself about in midfield and spreading play to Koutalides and Gray on the flanks. Foresters defended stoutly however and the keeper was rarely called upon in the opening quarter of an hour.

With twenty minutes played, and having barely created a chance of note, the visitors then scored in bizarre fashion. A cross from the left wing sailed over the heads of the back four and almost ricocheted into the retreating Buckley. As he prepared to volley clear, the Forest winger slid in and somehow managed to fire the ball into the top corner whilst attempting an acrobatic challenge. It was unquestionably fortunate – the OHAFC having clearly angered the Gods with their own hugely fortunate last-minute goal away to the Old Westminsters last weekend.

The Blues remained buoyant, however, and pressed forwards in search of an equaliser, creating plenty of promising situations but ultimately unable to test the keeper beyond fairly routine saves. With five minutes to go to half-time the skipper eventually brought himself on, along with the debutant Rogers. The switch to a back three was made, Rogers joining Ciaran Jordan and Ed Nicholson in defence, Hayes and Dolbey the two wing-backs.

The switch didn’t seem to affect the flow of the game to any great extent, with the opening twenty minutes of the second half hard-fought but devoid of any goalmouth incident. But with twenty minutes remaining the visitors scored a vital second, the skipper taking advantage of a slip from Jordan, who slightly mis-controlled a high ball, allowing the Forest player to nick in and plant a confident finish past keeper Tom Mitchell into the bottom left corner.

The odds were now stacked firmly against the hosts extending their unbeaten run but a couple of headed chances could have made the closing quarter of an hour a struggle for the men in red: Nicholson headed over from a corner and Jasper Gray should have done better with his effort from James Walduck’s excellent cross.

As it was, the final word went to the visitors, who added a third five minutes from time, a close-range volley from a far post cross leaving Mitchell with no chance. It gave the scoreline a rather more one-sided appearance than the game deserved, but Forest showed their ruthlessness at the crucial moments and look a convincing bet to return to the top division at the first time of asking.

The Blues now enjoy their first week off of the season before a tricky trip up north to face fellow Division One side the Old Rugbeians in the first round of the Dunn Cup. With a favourable home draw awaiting the winners in round two, this could yet prove a real opportunity for the side to reach the quarter-finals for ten seasons.