The OHAFC 1st XI began the new season in style on Saturday afternoon, recording their biggest ever win against the Old Rugbeians and their biggest opening day win in over fifteen years. Skipper Dan Firoozan led from the front, scoring a superb hat-trick in the false nine position. Midfielder Walid Nsouli also enjoyed himself with a virtuoso display in the middle capped off with a splendid goal in the closing moments. Winger Arthur Leney scored twice in the space of a minute before half-time, with Ed Pagani, making his 1s debut, notching a unique double – scoring at both ends of the pitch barely sixty seconds apart.

Having put seven past the Old Radleians in a friendly on Wednesday night, hopes were high that the Blues could avoid the usual slow start that tends to plague OHAFC teams in the early stages of each season. And, against a Rugby side clearly missing a few regulars, the Blues did just that, starting fast and ensuring their opponents never enjoyed a sniff of avoiding a heavy defeat.

On a warm, late summer afternoon in southwest London, the visitors hit the front inside ten minutes with a well-worked move down the left that saw Arthur Leney win possession and feed debutant Alex Edu, he passed to Nsouli who then fed Froozan and the skipper drilled a precise low shot into the bottom corner. Buoyed by the early goal, the Blues began to click in some style, Firoozan and Nsouli weaving pretty patterns in the middle and supplying wide men Leney and Pagani. The skipper twice found himself with presentable shooting opportunities but both left-foot efforts were saved. With the experienced back four of Hayes, James Walduck, Buckley and Owen Edmunds in control at the back, stand-in keeper Yunus Sert, still not quite fit enough to play outfield, was well protected and had very little to trouble him.

It took the visitors until just after the half-hour mark to fully stamp their authority on proceedings when two goals in the space of a minute from Arthur Leney ensured a comfortable cushion for the men in blue. Both finishes were from through-balls down the inside left channel, the first a simple pass into the far corner from Firoozan’s pass, the second a far more difficult finish, clipping the ball over the onrushing keeper from an acute angle close to the goal line. And when the skipper scored his second three minutes before the break, teed up by debutant Alex Edu to lash home into the roof of the net, the result appeared beyond doubt.

Ed Pagani, who had enjoyed an energetic first forty-five minutes down the right, then took centre stage, scoring at both ends of the pitch in quick succession. Firoozan claimed a second assist, a simple pass allowing the winger to smash in a shot at the near post, the keeper rather flapping at the ball. But from a rare attack at the other end, the Rugbeians forced the Harrow man into a slightly clumsy moment, the ball bundled over the line following a cross from the right.

The half-time message was clear: no let-up in intensity, no over-elaboration in a bid for personal glory. A message was to be sent to the remainder of the division. By the time the final whistle blew, the latter had certainly been achieved, although the desire not to over-elaborate had perhaps not always been strictly followed.

A slow start to the half from both sides ensured a lack of goalmouth action at both ends. The hosts, who toiled all afternoon, were then dealt an unfortunate blow when a second player limped off injured. With only one sub available, this precipitated the need for another player who had earlier limped off to return in goal.

Slowly the visitors began to crank up the pressure once more and the skipper duly completed his hat-trick just past the hour mark. It was a goal of stunning simplicity and the Rugbeians are unlikely to want to suffer a repeat between now and the season’s end. A short corner saw Nsouli feed James Walduck and his cross, under no pressure, found Firoozan in an ocean of space six yards from goal, the header almost unmissable.

Nsouli had showcased the full range of his abilities throughout but it was clear he craved a goal of his own if he was to leave the field happy. It finally arrived two minutes from time, another long shot this time hit with the required pace and precision to fly into the roof of the net past the beleaguered stand-in. The hosts had the final word, skipper Sam Pougatch bundling in their second with the final kick of the game. But the day belonged to the OHAFC.

Whilst the Blues will undoubtedly face far tougher opposition this season, this was about as comprehensive an opening day performance as you could wish for. Firoozan and Nsouli shone throughout, debutants Edu and Harry Winward showed plenty of promise despite the unaccustomed demands of men’s football and all eleven players remained focussed for the entire ninety minutes. The only disappointment came in the post-match realisation that the side now do not return to action for a full three weeks. They do have at least one week to enjoy looking down on the rest of Division One however.