The OHAFC 1st suffered a frustrating defeat on the opening weekend of their 2025/26 season, falling to a 3-2 reverse at home to the newly-promoted Old Merchant Taylors on a sundrenched Hill. Shorn of numerous regulars, the Blues fell behind just five minutes into the game, conceding an unnecessary penalty following a pass across their own box. But the hosts levelled five minutes into the second half, John Russell firing in from close range after Jasper Gray’s effort had been deflected into his path. Parity lasted just five minutes, however, the visitors restoring their lead courtesy of an excellent low strike from the edge of the box. And when Taylors added a third five minutes after that with a spectacular bicycle kick from a long throw, the result appeared beyond doubt. But the hosts gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Ciaran Jordan pulled a goal back with just under a quarter of an hour remaining, the forward bundling in from close range following a corner. Neither side came close to scoring in the closing stages and the Blues were left to rue the poor defending that cost two of the three goals conceded.

With both skipper Dan Firoozan and vice-captain Ed Beecham absent, the former away, the latter injured, it fell on Cyprian Owen Edmunds and Jamie Jordache to lead the 1st XI in their opening fixture of the new season. Following a disappointing struggle throughout much of the previous campaign, a pair of opening fixtures at home to MTs and the Old Rugbeians offered a chance to start this season off on a much firmer footing. Disappointingly, however, availability for the opener was patchy, with only four or five regulars in the starting lineup. Midfielder Blesk Ekpenyong, a Warwick University student, made his OHAFC debut, as did right-back Tom Keeble. Nikita Levine and Jasper Gray have both featured a few times before and it was encouraging to see Walid Nsouli back in blue following some impressive early displays for the side.

Taylors have been long-time opponents for the OHAFC 2nd XI and their promotion into Division One - a slight anomaly given that they finished fourth in Division Two last season - provided a first ever League meeting between the respective 1st XIs. In bright autumnal sunshine and on an immaculate pitch on the Phil, with a fresh sheen on the surface from earlier rain, the hosts made a promising start, taking the game to their opponents and pressing the visitors from the off. But with just six minutes on the clock, and Taylors having barely strung five passes together, the hosts conceded an unforgiveable penalty: a pass across the edge of the penalty area saw Keeble take a slightly heavy touch and the Taylors winger pounced, driving into the box only to be clattered into by a desperate lunge from Jamie Jordache. Veteran keeper Alex Fraysse was sent the wrong way from the spot and the Blues found themselves trailing just six minutes into the new season.

The first half proved an even affair with the pitch proving surprisingly tricky for both sides to master, the slick top surface causing numerous poor touches. As a result, chances also proved hard to come by. Taylors came close with just over a quarter of an hour played, another ball lost in midfield saw the ball played to the edge of the box and a curled effort had to be tipped round the far post by a full-length dive from Fraysse. As the half wore on, however, the hosts began to grow into the game more and play became more concentrated inside the Taylors half. The youthful midfield duo of Ekpenyong and Nsouli saw plenty of the ball and Alfie Hayes threatened consistently down the right until he was asked to drop back to right-back after half an hour, Ciaran Jordan coming on for Tom Keeble and forcing a minor reshuffle.

Jasper Gray forced the first save of the game for the Taylors keeper from a free-kick after a strong run from Jamie Jordache was brought to an unfair end. Both sides then threatened prior to the break, Jasper Gray delivering several crosses from the left that were all dealt with by the visitors’ back four before a dangerous Taylors break saw Fraysse forced into another strong save, diving to his left to parry a low effort from a narrow angle. The final attack of the half saw Nsouli produce a powerful long-range effort following a well-crafted one-two with Gray, the Taylors keeper saving well.

Words of encouragement followed at the interval, the young Harrow side encouraged to retain their belief in a game that was clearly winnable. And even more so following a strong start to the second half that saw the hosts level just five minutes in. A corner was won on the right, Nsouli’s delivery was headed clear but Jasper Gray’s rather scuffed shot deflected off a defender and fell perfectly for John Russell to sidefoot back across goal into the bottom corner.

But within six minutes the visitors had retaken the lead. A rather speculative long ball down the Taylors right allowed the winger and full-back to combine and deliver a lowcross into the box. Jordache attempted to clear but the ball fell to an attacker on the edge of the box and, having taken a touch and steadied himself, he fired a perfect low shot into the far corner. Four minutes later and things went from bad to worse for the hosts. A long throw on the left wasn’t tracked by the Harrow defence, who seemed under the impression the ball was running harmlessly behind for a goal kick. But a Taylors forward had other ideas, darting forwards to just about keep the attack alive, hooking the ball back to the six yard box where a teammate produced a spectacular overhead kick that flew past Fraysse and in off the post.

The Blues did their best to battle back into the game but despite plenty of endeavour the Taylors defence kept the hosts at arm’s length, few chances of note created at either end. The visitors were undoubtedly helped by having a full squad of fourteen, the Blues lagging somewhat as the game wore on. Blesk Ekpenyong, who enjoyed an encouraging debut in the middle, was finally forced off twenty minutes from time suffering from a tight calf. But five minutes later a second Harrow goal created a tense finish. A corner on the right was swung in by Nsouli, Russell flicked on and Ciaran Jordan was on hand to bundle in from close range.

But further chances proved impossible to come by as the visitors saw out the game in some comfort, a long-range strike from Nsouli the closest Harrow would come to completing the comeback. So a disappointing start for the OHAFC, the old worries about fitness and availability surfacing right from the outset of the new campaign.