A patched up OHAFC 3rd XI fell to a second consecutive three-goal defeat on Saturday afternoon, a 3-0 defeat away to the Old Kingstonians down in Thames Ditton leaving the Blues rooted to the foot of the Division Four table. A tight first half saw the hosts take the lead after twenty minutes following a scramble inside the box. The visitors responded well, however, and looked the better side as half-time approached without being able to create any clear-cut chances. The second half proved equally tense, with the Blues still very much in the game until the concession of two goals in five minutes midway through the half: the first a free header from a free-kick, the second following a suicidal pass across the face of the penalty area.

With several regulars unavailable, a bare eleven was only confirmed on the morning of the game, Harry Neville stepping up to fill the final slot. It was his 3rd XI debut, his only previous OHAFC appearance coming for the 2s. David Liu made his first start of the campaign at left-back, Colehan and Collins debuting their centre-back partnership. At least the front three had an experienced look to it, with Adam Graham spearheading the attack flanked by Tobi Adebayo and Khalil Baoku.

As could have been expected given the nature of the lineup and the slightly inconvenient location for this game, on the banks of the Thames just south of Hampton Court, the visitors started slowly having barely had time for any kind of warm-up. But the skipper marshalled his troops well and, helped by the compact, uneven playing surface, managed to keep the hosts at arm’s length with relative ease. Several long throws were headed clear, several crosses cleared efficiently. Adebayo, Ede and Neville got stuck in in the middle of the pitch and newcomer Max Cowley, who appears to be a real find at right-back, dealt with the tricky Kingstonian left winger without alarm.

But with just over twenty minutes played the pressure finally told and the hosts took the lead when a cross into the box caused a scramble, the ball eventually falling to a red shirt to fire home from close range. The visitors responded well, however, gradually working their way up the pitch courtesy of some strong hold-up play from Adam Graham, with plenty of support from those around him. Several corners were forced but all were cleared and, much as Kingstonians had found prior to their goal, chances on this tricky pitch are notoriously hard to conjure up.

So it proved for much of the second half also, with the opening twenty minutes seeing plenty of industry but little creative magic. Graham bundled past a couple of defenders into the area but eventually lost out. He then fired a free-kick wildly over the bar from thirty yards out. Another couple of long range efforts failed to trouble the Kingstonians keeper. At the other end, the hosts came close to doubling their lead when a toe-poke that ran just past the post. Back came the visitors, Ede cutting in from the left and seeing his shot deflected wide, Cowley then saw his effort from the subsequent corner blocked.

With neither keeper really called upon, the next goal was always likely to prove crucial and, unfortunately for the visitors, it was the Kingstonians who scored it. A needless free-kick was conceded on the Harrow right and the excellent cross flew over Collins’ head and found an unmarked player who headed home from five yards out. Four minutes later the result was put beyond any doubt when Colehan attempted an ambitious crossfield pass midway inside his own half and only succeeded in presenting the ball to the left winger, who couldn’t believe his luck. With all the defenders caught the wrong side of the ball, he was left the simplest of tasks to carry the ball into the box and curl his shot over Hammad and inside the near post.

The Harrow keeper was now called upon several times to prevent the scoreline from getting out of control and he pulled off a couple of excellent saves. It was little surprise to see the fourteen men of Kingstonians last the ninety minutes far better than the bare Harrow eleven. By the end, the final whistle brought relief for the men in blue. It had been an admirable effort for the most part, but availability must improve going forwards if the side are going to climb away from the foot of the table.