OHAFC III 6 Old Sennockians 1

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In their last game of the season the 3s were due to play one of the top teams of Div 5, Old Sennockians 1XI (Sevenoaks). It seemed a daunting prospect as the opposition had given the 3s a 6-1 thrashing in the first game of the season and to add to that, 3 points would take Harrow up to 5th place but a win for Sevenoaks would make them league champions. However this time there was a new Captain: Azhar Yaqub-Khan decided to go with a 4-4-1-1 formation and made plans to give his team a fighting chance. Inspired by the recent Real Madrid victory over Bayern Munich the instructions were simple: work as a compact unit in defence and score on the counterattack. Despite being a hat trick away from the prestigious award, the skipper also made a point of encouraging his players to help striker Alex Smith claim the Club's Golden Boot.

The day got off to a perfect start thanks to Jack Orr-Ewing (2XI Captain) who the night before had cooked his fellow 3s Captain a delicious roast chicken dinner for two and continued his kindness by sponsoring an enjoyable team breakfast at Harris + Hoole. As expected it was a high intensity game from the start and Harrow weren't getting much time on the ball but neither did they allow their opposition to. Pom Beeley and Nick Kapoor in midfield were instrumental in keeping Harrow in the game with big challenges and closing the opposition down quickly. 18 mins in and it was the Old Sennockians who blinked first when Alec Fogarty (left back) fired a shot in forcing the keeper to parry the ball. Alex Ewell (left wing) was smart enough to follow the shot and comfortably slotted the ball in scoring his second goal of the season and lifting the team in the process. The battle raged on and some good movement from Sevenoaks caused them to equalise shortly after. Undeterred Harrow continued to apply the pressure, consistently testing the keeper. Elwell was once more with the ball on the left flank outside the opposition's area but was brought down winning Harrow a free kick. Smith stepped up and with the side of his foot placed the ball along the ground into the bottom right corner with perfection, leaving the keeper with no chance and thus making it 2-1 to Harrow at 33mins. Not an easy score to take into half time but the team were reminded that Sevenoaks needed the 3 points to win the league so there could be no room for complacency.

Harrow returned with the same intensity. Jaguar Bajwa who had ruled himself out of with a knee injury came along to support the team, but the game had been far too enticing to watch from the sidelines and so he joined the midfield. His ability to receive the ball in space and distribute with accuracy meant that Harrow were suddenly playing a lot more with the ball. At 50 mins, Smith hunted down a back pass to the keeper only to be brought down in the box making it an easy decision for the ref to award Harrow a penalty. Smith scored his second goal of the day sending the ball bottom right and making it 3-1. The striker was now just one goal away from being the OHAFC's leading goal scorer of the season. Fogarty then had to come off with an injury and was replaced by Tejit Johar (left back) who put in a solid performance and made a case for a more permanent place in the side. 10 minutes later with great vision Jaguar put Smith through and once again the striker was taken out late by the keeper. No questions as to who was taking the pen, Smith sent the ball bottom right scoring a hat trick and winning the Golden Boot in his debut season for the Club. 4-1 up with 30 mins to go, Harrow were having too much fun to sit back. This time it was as if Mesut Ozil himself had morphed into the Captain's body as Yaqub-Khan (right wing) passed the ball with perfect weight through the middle of two defenders for Smith to run on to and the striker sent it to his favoured bottom right corner claiming his 4th goal of the game. 15 mins left and Harrow continued their assault. The always jovial Benjy Sewell had put in a serious shift sitting behind the lone striker and with 9 minutes to go he received a lovely through ball from Jaguar but still with much work to do Sewell burst down the left flank past the Sevenoaks defence and took to the ball round the keeper 'like Ruud Van the pistol Nistelrooy' calming slotting home taking the scoreline to 6-1.

McHardy (goalkeeper) was on point all match and his communication when the team was defending added to their strength. But as Harrow tired towards the end, the 'keeper really got to show his colours repelling several difficult shots from the opposition. Though many goals were scored, the victory was owed as much to the defensive brilliance of the back four consisting of Theo Gordon (right back), Orr-Ewing (centre back), Jor-el Bajwa (centre back) and Fogarty (left back). The quartet did an outstanding job as Sevenoaks never seemed to give in. Gordon and Fogarty gave the Old Harrovians an edge by providing an overlap on the counterattack. Crucially to the team's shape, Orr-Ewing was consistent in organising his line and communicating with his midfielders.

Verily, this was a well thought out plan which was executed with flare. To have been beaten by Sevenoaks 6-1 in the first game of the season and then return the favour in the last, does well to reflect how the 3XI have grown as a team over the 13 games and sets them up well to match their aspirations to lead the league next year. A special thank you goes to the Woolleys who cheered the team on from the sidelines!

After the match the Club treated the team to celebratory drinks in the sunshine rounding off a perfect day of football and an enjoyable season.