The OHAFC 1st XI kicked off 2026 with a tough 4-0 defeat at home to the Old Ardinians, the runaway leaders of Division One and the only side in the Arthurian League still presiding over a 100% win record this season. Despite the convincing margin of defeat, the Blues put on a very decent display, reaching the interval level at 0-0 and eventually paying the price for missing several highly presentable chances, the Ardinians running away with the game in the final half-hour to record an immensely impressive tenth consecutive League victory of the campaign.

The two sides had met earlier in the season on the artificial turf at Kings House in Chiswick, the Ardinians earning a 3-1 win back in early November. Eight of the thirteen players in action that day were present here, with the Blues, who hadn’t played since a 2-1 win over the Westminsters on December 13th, boosted by the return of winger Will Payne to the starting eleven and defender Charlie Dunn, whose only other appearance for the 1s this season was in the Dunn Cup defeat away to the Rugbeians. He started the match on the bench alongside Tom Walduck, the hosts starting in their usual 4-3-3 formation with Dan Firoozan playing in his usual false nine role whenever an orthodox striker is unavailable.

On a cloudy day on the Harrow School astroturf, the first half proved a tight affair with the hosts competing largely on even terms. Harrow keeper Tom Mitchell was forced into an early save, showcasing his reactions with a spring low to his left to divert a powerful effort from the Ardinians striker around the post. But this proved a relatively isolated moment of danger for the Blues, the Ardinians front line well marshalled by the Harrow back four of Hayes, Beecham, James Walduck and Nikita Levine. At the other end, the hosts were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead when a poor free-kick from the Ardinians keeper fell straight to Dan Firoozan, he fed Jasper Gray inside the box but the youngster’s effort flew just over the bar as the keeper desperately scrambled back to try and redeem himself.

The Harrow skipper had already shuffled his pack prior to the interval with both substitutes Dunn and Walduck introduced off the bench. And perhaps the crucial period that would determine the outcome of this match arrived in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, the hosts on top but spurning further chances to break the deadlock. Skipper Firoozan fired inches wide of the post with a superb effort from nearly thirty yards out, then Cameron Mahal somehow missed from much closer range when he fired wide following a super cross from the right from Alfie Hayes.

As so often is the case in football, failure to capitalise during a spell of dominance usually ends in the fates conspiring against you and, sure enough, the Ardinians had clearly read the script. With an hour played and the Blues on top, pressing to take the lead, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock. A calamitous mix-up at the back saw Jamie Jordache and Tom Walduck almost collide going into a challenge, the ball ran straight to the left winger and he coolly rounded keeper Tom Mitchell to walk the ball into an empty net.

The Blues pressed on, apparently oblivious to this setback. But the home side must have known it wasn’t to be their day when they then spurned two more gilt-edged chances to score in quick succession. Jasper Gray was first to hold his head in his hands when he failed to convert from close range following a lovely move down the right. Arthur Leney then ran onto a superb ball over the top from Charlie Dunn, but, with just the keeper to beat, took a heavy touch and allowed the custodian to rush off his line and smother.

Confirmation that their efforts would ultimately prove fruitless on this occasion arrived shortly afterwards for the home side as they conceded a second on the break: the tricky Ardinians right winger weaved his way past three or four challenges before delivering a low cross that was turned in at the far post. Harrovian resistance was finally broken and the final twenty minutes saw the visitors gain the upper hand for the first time during the match. They scored twice more to give the scoreline a rather unjust one-sided look: another cross allowing a simple finish before a ball over the top allowed the striker to run in on goal unchallenged.

It was harsh on the OHAFC, who really only had themselves to blame for not running their opponents far closer. Nevertheless, despite a four-match unbeaten run coming to an end, the manner of the performance should give the team plenty of optimism heading into their final seven fixtures of the season, beginning with a very winnable game away to the struggling Wykehamists next week.