The OHAFC 2nd XI recorded the joint-biggest club victory on the opening weekend of an Arthurian League season when they dispatched the Old Alleynians 3s 5-1 in a memorable performance on the astroturf in Hampton on Saturday afternoon. Having suffered a 4-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture at Dulwich College back in February, the Blues turned the tables on their opponents with a four-goal first-half blitz before defending stoutly in the second half - two late goals, one for each team, ensured the 2s matched the 5-1 win the OHAFC 3s recorded against Old Cholmelians 4s on the their opening weekend in 2015.

There was a familiar look to the Harrow lineup with all but one of the thirteen-man squad having featured regularly last season. Substitute Jacques Gairard made his OHAFC debut from the bench prior to the break. If the lineup was a familiar one, the formation most certainly was not. Following some pre-season discussions, joint-skippers Miles Kellock and Tristan David decided to employ a 3-5-2 formation for the start of the season in a bid to reduce the number of goals conceded: the Blues’ poor record of 50 goals against last season in Division Three – only two sides let in more – hampering efforts to secure promotion.

But in fine conditions on the astroturf in Hampton, earlier heavy rain having abated, it was the attacking play that caught the eye in the first half. An even opening ten minutes yielded few chances and little to excite those watching on. But the visitors suddenly produced a flowing team move that cut through the Alleynians like a hot knife through butter, the ball worked between four or five players before Kellock fed Taunton-Collins on the right, the winger cut in and fed Ed Stewart and after a slightly heavy first touch the midfielder produced a powerful finish on the stretch with his right foot, the ball arrowing into the roof of the net.

Two minutes later and it could and probably should have been 2-0, Kellock’s fierce low drive was shelled by the keeper who then made amends by somehow blocking Andres Hutchinson’s follow-up from point-blank range. But the Blues were now full of confidence and nothing typified this more than a superb strike from skipper Tristan David after twenty minutes: Giacomo Grasso fired a long ball forwards and Owain James was bundled to the ground from behind as he controlled on his chest. Up stepped David from twenty-five yards out to curl a left-foot effort perfectly into the top corner, the keeper not bothering to move.

Five minutes later and the Blues were in dreamland with yet another magnificent goal making it 3-0. Callum Butler strode forwards out of defence past a couple of rather timid challenge before finding Hutchinson inside the centre circle. The winger turned and arrowed a superb pass inside the retreating full-back, sending James sprinting clear down the left. With no Harrovian able to join the attack, options were limited. But the forward then surprised everyone, not least the Alleynian keeper, by firing a low shot just inside the near post from the tightest of angles – the goalie’s one step forwards to cut off the cross proving a fatal error.

Both Gairard and Kyri Pittalis were brought on after half an hour with the Blues in firm control, the only slight worry a knock to Owain James’ hip that saw him walk off rather gingerly. He would return to the fray only ten minutes from time. Max Curry fared even worse however, limping off with a knee injury five minutes before the break following a heavy challenge. His recovery in time for next week’s fixture at Haberdashers will now be touch and go. But by this time the visitors had scored a fourth to put the result firmly beyond the reach of their opponents. This proved the most prosaic of the five scored by the men in blue, Taunton-Collins, who looked lean and fit throughout, racing past his man down the right and drilling over a low cross, the ball flying inside the near post via a significant deflection off the centre-half.

It took the Blues a while to get going after the break with the Alleynians enjoying their only real period of superiority in the first ten minutes. Keeper Rory Craig was well protected by the back five but the visitors struggled to play their way out of trouble and found themselves penned inside the defensive third. But having weathered the storm, the visitors’ superior fitness began to show and the closing twenty minutes saw them dominate once more. Play became stretched as players tired and the visitors were guilty too often of taking too many touches on the ball when an early pass would have set a teammate free, but play was concentrated far higher up the pitch.

Ed Stewart saw his deflected shot palmed wide by the sprawling Alleynians keeper, Kellock then sliced his effort wide following excellent build-up play. The hosts then came within inches of scoring when a forward raced onto a loose ball and clipped it over the advancing Craig only for Kyri Pittalis to sprint back and hack the ball clear off the line as a goal seemed inevitable. Alleynians did finally break their duck when a cross from the right was taken down expertly inside the box and finished on the volley with a low shot into the far corner, but the four-goal margin was restored five minutes from time when Kellock’s clever backheel allowed Hutchinson to beat the offside trap and finish past the stranded keeper.

Both sides hit the woodwork in the closing stages, Ed Stewart heading against the post from a corner, the hosts striking the crossbar with a fine curled effort from the edge of the box. But the crowd had already had their money’s worth and the 2s can look forward to the delights of the Old Haberdashers Club in Borehamwood next weekend with full confidence.