Old Foresters III 3 OHAFC III 5

Two last minute drop outs meant stand in skipper Fogarty had a squad of 11 to face Old Forest 3s who had recorded an impressive start to the season.

Several members of the squad were still showing signs of Halloween spirit they had got into the night before. Ludo Callander was even still wearing a full set of women's makeup which he claimed to the squad was a result of his fancy dress. Further investigations on Facebook revealed that he actually wore a mummy outfit... we're still yet to get a comment from the Callander house hold.

The game could not have got off to a worse start with the 3’s conceding within a record-breaking amount of seconds from the kick off. A ball down the right was poorly crossed in with no one in defence dealing with, resulting in an easy tap in at the back post. An awful goal to concede and a real wake up call for the team. As result Harrow really switched on and started to dominate the midfield with Pom Beeley and Ed Richards playing a defensive shield in front of the back four, breaking up the play effectively and distributing well on a bobbly pitch. Alex Breeden operating just in front of them was providing incisive through balls and dribbles to support Ned Callander up top.

A young Harrow team clearly had the legs on an old looking Foresters which really showed when several players like N. Callander and Jenghis Dewan were skipping past them with ease. As a result, frustration crept into the home side resulting in several pointless fouls around the 18 yard box. Harrow managed to create their first chance from one of the set pieces, a ball swung in connected with Ludo Compton's head and cannoned off the bar. Harrow smelt blood and started to turn the screw. James Mee guided past a few Foresters and was eventually hacked down outside the area. A quick free kick from Breeden levelled the sides. With the Foresters keeper opting for an orthodox central wall, Breeden simply caressed the ball in to the big empty left had side of the goal.

The remainder of the first half was dominated by Harrow and any opportunity for the Essex Reds was snuffed out by Sam Stirrat and Compton at the back, Alex Elwell having to very little in goal.

This dominance did not pay off however. Harrow did not take a handful of chances and were unlucky not to win a penalty from a number skilful dribbles from N. Callander - too honest to go down after some hefty challenges.

The Essex boys managed to pinch a goal on the break just before the half time whistle, after some poor defensive clearances which resulted in a deflected shot past the helpless Elwell. 2-1.

Half time came and a frustrated Harrow team re grouped all knowing what was required of them to win the game. After no one volunteered to do the second half in goal, Fogarty took the gloves and yellow jersey, much to the amusement of the Foresters team who had never seen a former jockey as a goalkeeper.

An astute observation from Beeley suggested L. Callander change to left back to take advantage of his throw being assisted by the wind and the slope. During the first half his throws had caused a tall Forest defence a great deal of trouble and has been a huge asset for the 3s in recent matches since his discovery of Rory Delap on YouTube.

Harrow started the second half well and were first to most tackles. A cross was cleared poorly by a Forester player which resulted in a poachers finish from Dewan, his first for OHAFC.

Foresters responded straight away with a lobbed ball over the Harrow defence which Compton tried to control with his hand. As the ball rolled into the box, the striker latched onto it and slotted the ball home. 3-2 Forest.

Harrow were behind again for the 3rd time, but no heads went down, there was great belief in the team that they could outscore their opposition. Some excellent play down the left resulted in Breeden going one on one with keeper and finishing with ease. 3-3.

N. Callander had worked tirelessly throughout the game and was unlucky not to score in the first half. The front man persisted and finally got his reward - his first goal for the Club and a contender for goal of the season. A cross looked like it had gone too far behind him, but raising his back foot the ball connecting perfectly with his heel and floated into the top right-hand corner of the net. He then bagged a second to cap a fantastic team goal - Richards won the ball in midfield and found Beeley on the half way line. Beeley played a beautiful ball into the path of Callander who sped past one defender and finished with aplomb into the bottom left corner. 5-3.

Harrow had turned the game around but Forest continued to come at them. The defence, marshalled by Stirrat, did a great job to nullify attacks and Elwell made some great last ditch tackles. L. Callander and Mee doubled up well against a pacey winger in the second half and Fogarty luckily had little to do in goal apart from a few punches and flaps.

A superb victory for the Blues and the first of the season. A great effort by all eleven players against a team second in the division. It was a real show of character to come from behind on three occasions and win.

With five games played and five remaining, the side has momentum going into the second half of the season as they push for promotion.