The OHAFC 3rd Xi kicked off life under their new management team with a narrow but deserved 1-0 defeat at home to the Old Merchant Taylors 2s on Saturday morning on the Hill. Back in Division Five following last season’s relegation, this proved very much a learning experience for new joint-vice captains James Gibbens and Sam Dunn, but there was certainly enough about the performance to suggest the side will be competitive in the weeks and months ahead.

On a sunny but breezy day on the Hill, and with the Phil pitches still far from their best given the exceptionally dry summer, the home side found themselves under pressure for long spells against a Merchant Taylors side back in the league following a lengthy hiatus. Keeper Hassan Hammad, the 3s’ near ever-present last line of defence last season, produced a couple of excellent saves to foil the visitors and keep the home side in the game. Centre-backs Si Nicholson and debutant Chike Odogwu were both pillars of resistance at the back and will hopefully go on to form a strong partnership at the heart of the back four. There was also promise in midfield, with Gibbens and Dunn joined by another debutant, Harry Scott, in what looks to be the basis of a powerful engine room going forwards.

The Blues struggled in attack, however, with the front three of Henry Wilson, Roget Litton and Khalil Baoku rather labouring to break down a strong MTs back four. Baoku had the best chance for the home side, firing over the bar from just inside the box midway through the second half. But it seemed, as time ticked past the ninety minutes, as though the hosts had held on for a valuable point. Until one final long ball was punted over the top of the tiring Harrow defence and a forward ran on to sweep the ball round the stranded Hammad and roll it into the unguarded net. Cruel luck for the OHAFC in their season opener.

Nevertheless, after the game the skippers remained positive and clearly will have learnt much from this opening performance. Festiphil ensures all three Harrow sides have a week off from League action, with the 3s entertaining the side who finished bottom of Division Five last season, the Old Stoics, in a fortnight’s time.